Page 395 - The Golden Age of Chinese Archaeology: Celebrated Discoveries from the People’s Republic of China

The high relief of the bronze and jade on the back over its body can be discerned; it is possible
upper surfaces of the headrest contrasts with the that this piece and its simpler tandem at the other
markedly flatter designs on the side plaques. Each end of the headrest were originally intended for
of the four larger rectangular plaques, two on one other uses. Such an interpretation is supported by
side, two on the other, with angled upper corners, jades in the headrest of Dou Wan, a similar (albeit
frames an S-shaped tigerlike creature twisting to much less elegant) example. The two long sides
face the viewer. These creatures, displayed in profile include sections of bi disks cut to fit the rectangle,
with striated, curling tails, closely resemble the and squared fragments similarly compose the top
feline dragons depicted in other works in this exhi- and two ends; the original patterns (criss-crosses,
bition (cats. 141,145). It seems likely that these animal scroll borders) and composition of these
feline creatures derive from animal representations constituent pieces remain clearly evident in this
on gold or bronze plaques and harness ornaments adaptation.
from present-day Inner Mongolia and southern A somewhat more complex composition can
Siberia. Transformed into jade, they have been be observed on the headrest from the Houloushan
fully assimilated into their new context. 3 tomb (fig. i). In this example, four creatures form
The four smaller plaques that form the bodies the metal framework, their feet supporting the
of the main creatures of the headrest are D-shaped headrest itself, while their heads decorate the
and have narrow slots carved within them; it seems corners of the upper surface. Fragments of two
likely that they were originally parts of pendant S-shaped dragon pendants compose the top, and
sets. Each comprises two S-shaped dragons backing a piece of another dragon pendant forms one of
onto each other; their contours form the curved the sides; jade plaques have been used to fill in
edge of the plaque, and a small flattened disk- extra space. The headrest is particularly interesting
shaped object lies between their tails. The plaques for the small, framelike device at the center of
at each end of the headrest also seem to represent one side, flanked by two monster faces with ring
varieties of S-shaped dragons. One bears traces of a handles. JR
suspension hole, and the head of a dragon looking

394 E A R L Y I M P E R I A L C H I N A