Shang Dynasty Ca Collection

Dagger-axe (ge) with snake, c.1050-975 BCE (bronze)
8701728 Dagger-axe (ge) with snake, c.1050-975 BCE (bronze) by Chinese School, Zhou Dynasty (1050-221 BC); 21.4x9.7x2 cm; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution

Pendant (pei) in the form of the head of water buffalo, c. 13th-11th century BC (jade)
5951982 Pendant (pei) in the form of the head of water buffalo, c.13th-11th century BC (jade) by Chinese School (13th-11th century BC); 3.4x3x1.3 cm; Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution

Dagger axe, fragment reworked, c. 2000-c. 1400 BC (jade, nephrite)
5951972 Dagger axe, fragment reworked, c.2000-c.1400 BC (jade, nephrite) by Chinese School, (20th-14th century BC); 7.6x23.8x0.5 cm; Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution

Vessel (po), c. 1400-1200 BC (bronze)
5951902 Vessel (po), c.1400-1200 BC (bronze) by Chinese School (14th-12th century BC); 25.1x34.9 cm; Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution

Pendant in the form of a ram head, c. 13th-11th century BC (jade)
5952011 Pendant in the form of a ram head, c.13th-11th century BC (jade) by Chinese School (13th-11th century BC); 4.1x3.7x2.7 cm; Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution

Tube (cong þÉ«), c. 1300-c. 1050 BC (jade, nephrite)
5951049 Tube (cong þÉ«), c.1300-c.1050 BC (jade, nephrite) by Qijia culture (c.2250-c.1900 BCE); © Freer Sackler Gallery; Gift of Arthur M. Sackler

Bead with cicadas, c. 1600-1050 BC (jade, nephrite)
5952034 Bead with cicadas, c.1600-1050 BC (jade, nephrite) by Chinese School, (16th-11th century BC); 5.1x4.4x2.8 cm; Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution

Pendant (pei) in the form of a mask (taotie), c. 13th-11th century BC (jade)
5951983 Pendant (pei) in the form of a mask (taotie), c.13th-11th century BC (jade) by Chinese School (13th-11th century BC); 5x2.2x1.8 cm; Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution

Dagger-axe, fragment reworked, c. 2000-c. 1400 BC (jade, nephrite)
5951980 Dagger-axe, fragment reworked, c.2000-c.1400 BC (jade, nephrite) by Chinese School, (20th-14th century BC); 10.9x39.2x0.6 cm; Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution

Notched disk, c. 1600-c. 1050 BC (jade, nephrite)
5952033 Notched disk, c.1600-c.1050 BC (jade, nephrite) by Chinese School, (16th-11th century BC); Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution, USA; Freer Gallery of Art

Dagger-axe (ge), 11th century BC (jade, nephrite)
5952006 Dagger-axe (ge), 11th century BC (jade, nephrite) by Chinese School (11th century BC); 14.3x5.3x0.6 cm; Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution

Ancestor tablet, c. 1400-c. 1300 BC (jade, nephrite)
5951989 Ancestor tablet, c.1400-c.1300 BC (jade, nephrite) by Chinese School (14th-13th century BC); 18.6x2x1 cm; Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution

Ornament in the form of a mask, c. 1300-c. 1050 BC (jade, nephrite)
5952016 Ornament in the form of a mask, c.1300-c.1050 BC (jade, nephrite) by Chinese School, Anyang period (c.1300-c.1050 BCE); 11.3x7.6x0.6 cm; Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution

Pendant with mask, c. 1300-c. 1050 BC (jade, nephrite)
5951988 Pendant with mask, c.1300-c.1050 BC (jade, nephrite) by Chinese School, Anyang period (c.1300-c.1050 BCE); 9.9x3.2x2.2 cm; Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution

Pendant in the form of a bird, reworked, c. 1300-1050 BC (jade)
5951968 Pendant in the form of a bird, reworked, c.1300-1050 BC (jade) by Chinese School, Anyang period (c.1300-c.1050 BCE); 2.7x3.8x1 cm; Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution

Pendant with mask, fragment, c. 1300-c. 1050 BC (jade, nephrite)
5951136 Pendant with mask, fragment, c.1300-c.1050 BC (jade, nephrite) by Chinese School, Anyang period (c.1300-c.1050 BCE); 4.1x1.6x2.3 cm; (add.info.: H x W x D)

Knife (dao ÕêÇ), c. 1300-c. 1050 BC (jade, nephrite)
5951133 Knife (dao ÕêÇ), c.1300-c.1050 BC (jade, nephrite) by Chinese School, Anyang period (c.1300-c.1050 BCE); © Freer Sackler Gallery; Gift of Arthur M. Sackler

Pendant in the form of a bird, c. 1300-ca. 1050 BC (jade, nephrite)
5951119 Pendant in the form of a bird, c.1300-ca.1050 BC (jade, nephrite) by Chinese School, Anyang period (c.1300-c.1050 BCE); 2.3x2.7x1 cm; (add.info.: H x W x D)

Pendant in the form of a quadruped, fragment, c. 1100-c. 900 BC (jade)
5951115 Pendant in the form of a quadruped, fragment, c.1100-c.900 BC (jade) by Chinese School, Anyang period (c.1300-c.1050 BCE); 1.6x3.3x0.8 cm; (add.info.: H x W x D)

Pendant in the form of a tiger, c. 1300-c. 1050 BC (jade, nephrite)
5951098 Pendant in the form of a tiger, c.1300-c.1050 BC (jade, nephrite) by Chinese School, Anyang period (c.1300-c.1050 BCE); 1.2x5.7x1.6 cm; (add.info.: H x W x D)

Pendant in the form of a mask, reworked, c. 13th-11th century BC (jade)
5951126 Pendant in the form of a mask, reworked, c.13th-11th century BC (jade) by Chinese School, Anyang period (c.1300-c.1050 BCE); 3.7x2.6x0.3 cm; (add.info.: H x W x D)

Axe, c. 1300-c. 1050 BC (bronze with turquoise inlay and jade (nephrite) blade)
5952021 Axe, c.1300-c.1050 BC (bronze with turquoise inlay and jade (nephrite) blade) by Chinese School, Anyang period (c.1300-c.1050 BCE); 20.2x11x1 cm; Freer Gallery of Art

Pendant in the form of a mask, reworked, c. 1300-c. 1050 BC (jade with traces of cinnabar)
5951962 Pendant in the form of a mask, reworked, c.1300-c.1050 BC (jade with traces of cinnabar) by Chinese School, Anyang period (c.1300-c.1050 BCE); 5x4.3x0.5 cm; Freer Gallery of Art

Dagger-axe, fragment reworked, c. 1300-c. 1050 BC (jade, nephrite)
5951961 Dagger-axe, fragment reworked, c.1300-c.1050 BC (jade, nephrite) by Chinese School, Anyang period (c.1300-c.1050 BCE); 3.5x9.3x0.5 cm; Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution

Collared disk, c. 1300-c. 1050 BC (jade, nephrite)
5951137 Collared disk, c.1300-c.1050 BC (jade, nephrite) by Chinese School, Anyang period (c.1300-c.1050 BCE); © Freer Sackler Gallery; Gift of Arthur M. Sackler

Collared disk, c. 1300-c. 1050 BC (jade, nephrite)
5951134 Collared disk, c.1300-c.1050 BC (jade, nephrite) by Chinese School, Anyang period (c.1300-c.1050 BCE); © Freer Sackler Gallery; Gift of Arthur M. Sackler

Pendant in the form of a bird with horns, c. 1300-1050 BC (jade, nephrite)
5951106 Pendant in the form of a bird with horns, c.1300-1050 BC (jade, nephrite) by Chinese School, Anyang period (c.1300-c.1050 BCE); 3.3x3.4x0.3 cm; (add.info.: H x W x D)

Pendant in the form of a water buffalo, c. 1100-c. 1000 BC (jade)
5951087 Pendant in the form of a water buffalo, c.1100-c.1000 BC (jade) by Chinese School, Anyang period (c.1300-c.1050 BCE); 2.7x5x1 cm; (add.info.: H x W x D)

Pendant in the form of a bird, c. 1300-1050 BC (turquoise)
5951073 Pendant in the form of a bird, c.1300-1050 BC (turquoise) by Chinese School, Anyang period (c.1300-c.1050 BCE); 1.9x2.8x1 cm; (add.info.: H x W x D)

Pendant in the form of a dragon, probably reworked from a flanged bracelet or collared disk, c. 1300-c
5951048 Pendant in the form of a dragon, probably reworked from a flanged bracelet or collared disk, c.1300-c.1050 BC (jade, nephrite) by Chinese School

Finial in the form of a bird, reworked, c. 1300-1050 BC (jade, nephrite)
5951142 Finial in the form of a bird, reworked, c.1300-1050 BC (jade, nephrite) by Chinese School, Anyang period (c.1300-c.1050 BCE); 4.7x3.5x0.9 cm; (add.info.: H x W x D)

Pendant in the form of a water bird, c. 1300-1050 BC (jade, nephrite)
5951112 Pendant in the form of a water bird, c.1300-1050 BC (jade, nephrite) by Chinese School, Anyang period (c.1300-c.1050 BCE); 3.3x3.2x0.4 cm; (add.info.: H x W x D)

Pendant in the form of a dragon, c. 1300-c. 1050 BC (jade, nephrite)
5951099 Pendant in the form of a dragon, c.1300-c.1050 BC (jade, nephrite) by Chinese School, Anyang period (c.1300-c.1050 BCE); 8.7x3.4x0.2 cm; (add.info.: H x W x D)

Pendant in the form of a fish, one of a pair, probably reworked from a bracelet, c. 1300-c. 1050 BC (jade, nephrite)
5951054 Pendant in the form of a fish, one of a pair, probably reworked from a bracelet, c.1300-c.1050 BC (jade, nephrite) by Chinese School

Flanged bracelet, c. 1300-c. 1050 BC (jade)
5951044 Flanged bracelet, c.1300-c.1050 BC (jade) by Chinese School, Anyang period (c.1300-c.1050 BCE); 1.4x9.2 cm; (add.info.: H x Diam (overall)

Pendant (pei) in the form of a bird, c. 1300-1050 BC (jade, nephrite)
5951854 Pendant (pei) in the form of a bird, c.1300-1050 BC (jade, nephrite) by Chinese School, Anyang period (c.1300-c.1050 BCE); 4.3x5.1x0.5 cm; Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution

Pendant in the form of a cicada, c. 1100-c. 1000 BC (jade)
5951086 Pendant in the form of a cicada, c.1100-c.1000 BC (jade) by Chinese School, Anyang period (c.1300-c.1050 BCE); 4.5x2.1x0.6 cm; (add.info.: H x W x D)

Cylindrical bead, c. 2000-1050 BC (jade, nephrite)
5952035 Cylindrical bead, c.2000-1050 BC (jade, nephrite) by Chinese School, (3rd-2nd century BC); 3.6x3.7 cm; Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution

Pendant in the form of a bird, c. 1300-1050 BC (jade, nephrite)
5951995 Pendant in the form of a bird, c.1300-1050 BC (jade, nephrite) by Chinese School, Anyang period (c.1300-c.1050 BCE); 2.9x4.8x0.7 cm; Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution

Finial in the form of a bird, c. 1300-c. 1050 BC (jade, nephrite)
5951991 Finial in the form of a bird, c.1300-c.1050 BC (jade, nephrite) by Chinese School, Anyang period (c.1300-c.1050 BCE); 6.8x3.8x0.2 cm; Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution

Pendant in the form of a tiger, c. 1300-c. 1050 BC (jade, nephrite)
5951990 Pendant in the form of a tiger, c.1300-c.1050 BC (jade, nephrite) by Chinese School, Anyang period (c.1300-c.1050 BCE); 2.7x5.9x0.7 cm; Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution

Flanged bracelet, c. 1300-1050 BC (jade, nephrite)
5951138 Flanged bracelet, c.1300-1050 BC (jade, nephrite) by Chinese School, Anyang period (c.1300-c.1050 BCE); 11.7x0.4 cm; (add.info.: Diam x D)

Axe (yue Úë×), c. 1300-c. 1050 BC (jade, nephrite)
5951105 Axe (yue Úë×), c.1300-c.1050 BC (jade, nephrite) by Chinese School, Anyang period (c.1300-c.1050 BCE); 11.1x6.6x0.4 cm; (add.info.: H x W x D)

Pendant in the form of a water buffalo, reworked, c. 1300-c. 1050 BC (jade)
5951061 Pendant in the form of a water buffalo, reworked, c.1300-c.1050 BC (jade) by Chinese School, Anyang period (c.1300-c.1050 BCE); 2.5x3.8x0.6 cm; (add.info.: H x W x D)

Pendant in the form of a fish, c. 1300-c. 1050 BC (jade, nephrite)
5951055 Pendant in the form of a fish, c.1300-c.1050 BC (jade, nephrite) by Chinese School, Anyang period (c.1300-c.1050 BCE); © Freer Sackler Gallery; Gift of Arthur M. Sackler

Notched disk, c. 1300-c. 1050 BC (jade, nephrite)
5951041 Notched disk, c.1300-c.1050 BC (jade, nephrite) by Chinese School, Anyang period (c.1300-c.1050 BCE); © Freer Sackler Gallery; Gift of Arthur M. Sackler

Dagger-axe, c. 1300-c. 1050 BC (bronze with turquoise inlay and jade (nephrite) blade)
5952020 Dagger-axe, c.1300-c.1050 BC (bronze with turquoise inlay and jade (nephrite) blade) by Chinese School, Anyang period (c.1300-c.1050 BCE); Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution

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The Shang Dynasty, which thrived from the 16th to the 11th century BC in ancient China, left behind a rich legacy of exquisite artifacts. Among these treasures are stunning jade pendants, such as the pendant in the form of a water buffalo head. Crafted between the 13th and 11th centuries BC, this piece showcases intricate details that highlight the craftsmanship of its time. Another remarkable artifact is the dagger axe fragment reworked during c. 2000-c. 1400 BC. Made from precious jade and nephrite, it reflects both practicality and artistic flair. Its design exemplifies the fusion of beauty and functionality that defined Shang Dynasty culture. Bronze vessels were also highly valued during this era, as seen in an elegant vessel known as "po. " Created between c. 1400-1200 BC, it displays sophisticated craftsmanship with its intricate patterns and delicate handles. Jade was revered for its symbolic significance by the Shang people, evident in various pieces like a pendant shaped like a ram's head or an ornament resembling a mask called taotie. These items date back to c. 13th-11th century BC when jade was believed to possess protective qualities against evil spirits. The tube-shaped cong made from jade or nephrite is another notable artifact dating back to c. c1300-c1050 BC; its purpose remains mysterious but suggests religious or ceremonial importance due to their prevalence in tombs. Cicadas held special meaning for ancient Chinese cultures; thus, finding a bead adorned with cicadas crafted from jade or nephrite dating back to c. c1600-1050BC signifies reverence for nature within Shang society. Notched disks made from jade or nephrite were popular during this period too; they likely served ritualistic purposes related to ancestral worship given their presence alongside ancestor tablets carved out of precious jades like nephrite around c. c1400-c1300 BC.