Bird, one of a pair

These sitting doves are typical of the birds produced during the Qing dynasty. They have beautifully incised wing and tail feathers, an inverted C curve above each wing, and rows of hatch marks to indicate the feathered body. The feet, tucked underneath, are carefully worked in low relief.
As mentioned above (B60 J344), doves are believed to be able to swallow without choking, and staff finials given to people over seventy during the Han dynasty took the form of such a bird. The material is of good quality, with light-brown stains along the natural fissures.