Lot 3. A very rare green jade owl-shaped pendant, Late Shang-early Western Zhou Dynasty (circa 12th-9th century BC); 4.8cm (1 7/8in) long x 2.5cm (1in) wide. Sold for 15 300 €. Photo Fabrice Gousset.

Of flattened form, modelled with the head upright and wings tucked against the body, incised to define the details, the yellowish green stone with creamy inclusions to the lower body, some red pigmentation remaining to the incised detailing, a small drill hole to the beak for suspending.

Provenance: Robert Rousset, Paris (1901-1981), acquired prior to 1935.
Jean-Pierre Rousset, Paris (1936-2021).

Note: See a related jade bird pendant dated Shang or Western Zhou dynasty, in the Grenville L. Winthrop collection, Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University, illustrated by M.Loehr, Ancient Chinese Jades, Cambridge, 1975, p.116, no.130. Compare with a closely related greyish-white jade owl-form pendant, late Shang/early Western Zhou dynasty, which was sold at Christie's New York, 13 September 2019, lot 812.

Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr Paris. The Robert and Jean-Pierre Rousset Collection of Asian Art: A Century of Collecting - Part 1. Paris, 25 october 2022