Bird finial (Han style)

This finial in the shape of a resting bird is carved from grayish-white jade with white mottling; the darker areas are artificially enhanced. It is supported on a short tubular base, which is for the insertion of a staff. The bird wears a bell on a string around its neck, which signifies that it is a pet. The head is treated summarily, but the feathers show more attention to detail. The long tail feathers are incised with hatching.

Since ancient times, birds have been among the favorite pets of China. Some are admired for their songs; others, such as pigeons, are trained to carry messages. During the Han dynasty, people seventy years of age were given a staff with a bird finial. The bird, usually a dove, was believed to be able to swallow and digest food without choking. The gift therefore conveyed a wish that the recipient would do likewise. For an earlier example, see B60 J341.

The interest in antiquity during the Qing dynasty produced a number of such birds. Yang Boda believed this piece to be of material reworked in the 1800s. The finishing under the tail is uneven; the work would have been finer in the 1700s.