Celadon jade cicada knot-picker, Shang dynasty, Anyang phase, China, c1400-c1100 BC. A jade cicada of long narrow form simply carved, the tail coming to a point (probably used as a knot-picker or for plucking a musical instrument such as the Pi-pa) and the head pierced for use as a pendant. The cicada in part of its life cycle goes underground as a pupa and after a considerable time emerges as an adult to sing in summer. The Chinese equated this as rebirth or resurrection and the cicada was an auspicious animal from a very early period.
Pixel Dimensions (W x H) : 2831x2214
File Size : 18,363kb