Lot 1156. Two rare early mammoth tusk and bone carvings, Shang dynasty (circa 1600-1100 BC); 5 1/8 and approx. 11¾ in. (13 and 19.8 cm.) long. Estimate USD 3,000 - USD 5,000. Price realised USD 27,500. © Christie's Images Ltd 2013

One is a fitting carved from a woolly mammoth tusk in the shape of a dragon shown in profile. The body is deeply carved on both sides with shield-shaped scales and the neck arches over so that the head faces downwards above a rectangular cavity carved into the front edge below the head. The other is a long spatula-like bone implement deeply carved on the convex side with four registers of demi-taotie masks above a cicada blade band. The same decoration is lightly carved on the reverse. There are traces of cinnabar or red pigment. 

Provenance: Raymond A. Bidwell (1876-1954) Collection.
The Springfield Museums, Springfield, Massachusetts, accessioned in 1962.

Literature: Both: The Raymond A. Bidwell Collection of Chinese Bronzes and Ceramics, Museum of Fine Arts, Springfield, Massachusetts, 1965, pp. 30-31.
Bone implement: R. Spelman, The Arts of China, C.W. Post Center, Greenvale, New York, 1977, p. 22, no. 10.

Exhibited: Bone implement: C.W. Post Center, Long Island University, Greenvale, New York, The Arts of China, 4 February - 27 March 1977, p. 22, no. 10.