Shang Dynasty Jade Archer’s Ring with Sheep Head China, c. 16th–11th century BC.

Shang Dynasty Jade Archer’s Ring with Sheep Head China, c. 16th–11th century BC. - Image 2

Shang Dynasty Jade Archer’s Ring with Sheep Head China, c. 16th–11th century BC.

Shang Dynasty Jade Archer’s Ring with Sheep Head
Ancient jade thumb ring from the Shang Dynasty (16th–11th century BC), carved with a striking sheep’s head motif. Rich dark green and brown tones with fine age patina. Highly desirable as both an early archery tool and a symbol of power and prestige.
Size: H. 4.8 cm; L. 5.2 cm; Inner D. 3.2 cm; Wt. 91.8 g.

SKU: aj1016 Categories: Ancient Jade, Chinese Ancient Antiquity Tag: With Price Request

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Shang Dynasty Jade Archer’s Ring with Sheep Head China, c. 16th–11th century BC.

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Product Description

Archer’s Thumb Ring with Sheep Head
Shang Dynasty (c. 16th–11th century BC)
Jade
H. 4.8 cm; L. 5.2 cm; Inner D. 3.2 cm; Wt. 91.8 g

This jade archer’s ring, carved in the round, features the head of a sheep with curling horns rendered in low relief. The mottled surface displays variegated tones of dark green and brown, characteristic of age and burial. While thumb rings of this type originally served as functional archery equipment, by the Shang period they had taken on broader significance as symbols of status and ritual authority. The choice of the sheep, an animal closely associated with sacrificial rites and auspicious meaning, further enhances the object’s ceremonial character.