Late Shang Dynasty Nephrite Jade Tiger

Late Shang dynasty, Anyang period, c. 1250–1050 BC, China

Exceptionally rare and exquisitely carved, this superb nephrite jade tiger dates to the late Shang dynasty, during the Anyang period. Depicted in a dynamic recumbent pose, the tiger crouches with its massive head and powerful forequarters thrust forward. The mouth is open with fangs bared, the back slightly arched, the tail curled upward, and the legs tightly tucked beneath the body with compact, stylized paws. The composition conveys palpable strength, virility, and restrained ferocity.

The entire body is meticulously incised with geometric ornament composed of evenly spaced paired lines—often referred to as “double lines.” At first glance, certain elements appear to stand in low relief; however, this is a refined trompe-l’œil effect. The slender “relief” ridges are in fact flush with the surface, seeming raised only because of the precisely cut intaglio grooves that flank them. This sophisticated optical device is characteristic of the finest Shang-period jades. Small perforations at the mouth and tail suggest the possibility that the figure may once have been suspended as a pendant, perhaps serving an amuletic function.

The tiger’s eyes are particularly striking. Described in Chinese as chenzixingyan—eyes shaped like the character chen—they are large, with prominent circular irises and distinctive downward-pointing hooks at the inner corners. Such downward-hooked eyes are a hallmark of late Shang pictorial art and appear frequently on contemporaneous bronze ritual vessels.

Carved from nephrite jade (ruanyu), the hardstone favored by Chinese artisans during the Shang dynasty, the material reveals a warm, opaque buff-cream tone at its core. Areas of deep brown coloration visible across the surface likely result from natural accretions accumulated over millennia or possible exposure to heat in antiquity. These surface features are consistent with ancient burial environments and long-term aging.

Powerful yet refined, bold yet intricately controlled, this tiger exemplifies the extraordinary technical mastery achieved by Shang jade craftsmen. The tiger (hu or laohu) held profound significance in early Chinese culture. Native to China and Central Asia, it was both feared and revered for its strength and regal bearing. While its precise symbolism in Shang society remains debated, the tiger almost certainly fulfilled totemic or protective roles. In later cosmological systems, it became one of the Four Symbols of the cardinal directions—the White Tiger (Baihu) of the West—alongside the Azure Dragon of the East, the Vermilion Bird of the South, and the Black Tortoise of the North.

A masterful and evocative carving, this Late Shang jade tiger stands as a rare testament to the spiritual imagination and artistic brilliance of early China.

Good condition. There is a chip to the mouth of the upper jaw on one side, showing old repairs. A few minuscule surface nicks are present, consistent with age. Otherwise intact and excellent, with impressively well-preserved carved details. Light earthen deposits remain in recessed areas, further attesting to its age and burial history. Size approx. 13,2cm x 3,2cm x 4,8cm.

Provenance: Swedish private collection. 

For a similar examples see:

Pendant in the form of a tiger, Smithsonian Institution - National Museum of Asian Art,  Accession Number: S2012.9.295 (https://asia-archive.si.edu/object/S2012.9.295/)

Pendant (Pei) in the Form of a Tiger, Norton Museum of Art, Accession Number: 50.29 (https://medium.com/norton-museum-of-art/the-dragon-and-tiger-commanders-of-rain-and-wind-b76d98aba9aa)

For a closely related example, see the jade tiger excavated from the tomb of Fu Hao at Yinxu, Anyang, Henan province. That piece is illustrated in Yinxu Fuhao mu yuqi (The Jades from the Tomb of Fu Hao at Yinxu), Beijing, 1980, pl. 135, no. 1 (406).

For a similar jade carving of a tiger in the same recumbent pose, you can compare it to the jade tiger sold at Christie’s Hong Kong on 30 November 2020, Lot 2727, which is attributed to the Shang dynasty (https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6294077) 

For a closely related comparison, consider the archaic jade ‘tiger’ plaque sold at Sotheby’s on 6 November 2024, Lot 106 (https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2024/chinese-art-3/an-archaic-jade-tiger-plaque-late-shang-dynasty)

References and further reading:

A superb and important large jade tiger pendant, Late Shang dynasty, Anyang, 13th-11th century BC, Alain Truong, Sep. 5, 2021 (https://www.alaintruong.com/archives/2021/09/05/39122609.html)