Pair of plaques in the form of tigers

These nearly identical thin, translucent plaques are usually described as a pair of tiger-shaped pendants, even though they are quite large and borrow elements such a split, plume-like tail and feet with talons from other animals. Each beast possesses a lively, almost flickering silhouette with features defined partially in openwork. The bodies are textured by conical spirals that rise subtly above the surface, and the legs are decorated with scrolling lines and curls, all highly polished and intended to reflect light. Perforations at the top of each plaque would have been used to attach the plaques to another surface or suspend them from elaborate necklaces. This kind of complexity, intricacy, and finish could only be possible with the use of fine metal tools and new working methods. Both are characteristic of most of the jades believed to come from a site called Jincun, literally "Village of Gold," which is located outside Luoyang in Henan province. Beginning in 1928 a series of eight large tombs were found there. It is thought that the site was a royal cemetery for the late Zhou dynasty kings who ruled from Luoyang between 509 and 314 BCE. Produced in royal workshops, the objects buried at Jincun reveal that China's late Bronze Age was a period of great artistic achievement.