Deer pendant

Flat or silhouette shapes of deer are among the most common of Western Zhou jade pendants. Some examples have a small amount of additional surface work indicating parts of the animal's body while others are totally flat. Most are depicted as mature males with extensive antlers. However, a few examples are shown as does, or perhaps fawns, with large ears and no horns. This piece and another in the collection of the Seattle Art Museum are examples of the latter. Almost invariably the deer are depicted with their heads laid back over their shoulder, a mannerism which provides a certain animation to these otherwise very simple pieces. The dating of these pieces are supported by finds from the Western Zhou sites at Fengxi and Gaoji in Shaanxi province.

The workmanship on this piece is cursory. The sides of the slab from which it was cut are not parallel; they thin from top to bottom and in some areas are curved. Since these curves have no relation to the body or decor, it must be assumed they are unintentional and are a sign of either technical shortcomings or a lack of attention to such details. The only surface decoration is the eyes and mouth of the deer; they consist of little more than quick slashes. The piece was suspended from the hole cut to form the neck and jaw line of the deer. This area was created by creating two holes with a drill, connecting them with a string saw, and then cutting out the rest of the details. No attempt has been made to hide or finish the signs of the tools. This overall lack of finish may suggest that such pieces were meant for burial.

The piece is cut from greenish tan Khotan jade which has dark clouded areas near the rear hip of the deer. The level of polish, like the level of finish, is quite low.

j.IA, CASS, Fengxi fajue baogao (Fengxi Excavations Report), pls. 84-85; Rujiazhuang Archaeological Team, "Excavation of the Western Zhou Tomb at Rujiazhuang," PP. 52, 53.