Chine, Bronzes /Chinese Bronzes

Bronze Mirror with Moon Palace Design, Tang Dynasty (618-907), National Museum of China.

Mirror with four marine animals, Six Dynasties period, 3rd–5th century AD. Bronze, depth Ø 10 cm. National Gallery of Prague, Vp 717. The mirror’s physical property of reflecting images seems to be inferior to its magic and ritual roles in ancient China. A bronze mirror interred in a tomb was expected to protect the dead from evil and malignant forces and help guide his or her soul in the afterworld. Decorative motifs and inscriptions on mirrors often reflect cosmological meanings, symbols of the Heaven and Earth and other... [Lire la suite]

Daigou buckle, Eastern Zhou dynasty, 4th–3rd century BC. Bronze, width 18,5 cm. National Gallery of Prague, Vp 384. Hooks to fasten a belt or corner of a garment were used in China since the 6th century B.C., including nomads in Eurasian forests and steppe areas. The shape of such hooks suggests their function: a button on the reverse of a garment was attached to one end while a hook connected the other end of the belt or garment. As the hooks and buckles decorated with fine ornaments or inlays of precious metals and semiprecious... [Lire la suite]

Mirror with geometric pattern, Western Zhou dynasty, 11th–10th century BC. Bronze, depth Ø 6 cm. National Gallery of Prague, Vp 1796. The mirror’s physical property of reflecting images seems to be inferior to its magic and ritual roles in ancient China. A bronze mirror interred in a tomb was expected to protect the dead from evil and malignant forces and help guide his or her soul in the afterworld. Decorative motifs and inscriptions on mirrors often reflect cosmological meanings, symbols of the Heaven and Earth and other... [Lire la suite]

Ritual vessel you with birds, Western Zhou dynasty, 10th century BC. Bronze, height 18 cm. National Gallery of Prague, Vp 20. The ritual bronze wares from the Bronze Period (ca 2000–200 BC) that have survived in China in large numbers are unique in use and production technology. They were not made in the so-called lost-wax technique, but were cast in complexly decorated moulds of joint ceramic parts specially produced for each object. At the time the first states were forming in China, these vessels were used for rituals to pay... [Lire la suite]

Ritual vessel jue for serving wine, Shang dynasty, ca 1200 BC. Bronze, height 18 cm. National Gallery of Prague, Vp 2909. The ritual bronze wares from the Bronze Period (ca 2000–200 BC) that have survived in China in large numbers are unique in use and production technology. They were not made in the so-called lost-wax technique, but were cast in complexly decorated moulds of joint ceramic parts specially produced for each object. At the time the first states were forming in China, these vessels were used for rituals to pay respect... [Lire la suite]

Ding - Ritual Vessel, 12th Century B.C. Bronze cast in ceramic mold; height 18 cm, width 17,5 cm, depth 17,5 cm. Collection of Kinsky Palace, National Gallery of Prague, Vp 3138. The ritual bronze wares from the Bronze Period (c. 2000–200 B.C.) that have survived in China in large numbers are unique in use and production technology. They were not made in the so-called lost-wax technique, but were cast in complexly decorated moulds of joint ceramic parts specially produced for each object. At the time the first states were forming... [Lire la suite]

Mask, 1300–1100 BCE. Gold. H. 17.5, W. 31, D. 16 cm. Sanxingdui Pit 3, excavated in 2021. Sichuan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology © Sanxingdui Museum HONG KONG.- The Hong Kong Palace Museum announced the arrival of priceless artefacts from the Sanxingdui Museum in Guanghan and Jinsha Site Museum in Chengdu for the upcoming special exhibition “Gazing at Sanxingdui: New Archaeological Discoveries in Sichuan” (“Gazing at Sanxingdui”). The exhibition will be on view... [Lire la suite]

Lot 221. An inscribed bronze 'phoenix' mirror, Eastern Han dynasty (AD 25-220). Diameter 12.8 cm. Estimate 4,000 - 6,000 USD. Lot sold 3,810 USD. © Sotheby's 2023 with a four-character inscription reading jun yi gao guan (wish you achieve success and prosperity). Provenance: Collection of Dr. Wou Kiuan (1910-1997).Wou Lien-Pai Museum, coll. no. H.8.13.Sotheby's New York, 22nd March 2022, lot 108. Literature: Rose Kerr et al., Chinese Antiquities from the Wou Kiuan Collection. Wou... [Lire la suite]

  Lot 232. An archaic bronze ritual food vessel (ding), Shang dynasty, Erligang culture. Height 24.4 cm. Estimate 50,000 - 70,000 USD. Unsold. © Sotheby's 2023 Provenance: Japanese Private Collection, acquired in the 1980s and 1990s.Ikeda Kobijutsu, Tokyo. Note: This type of ding with pointed legs is characteristic of ritual bronzes from the pre-Anyang period of the Shang dynasty, but the band of decoration on the current vessel is broader and particularly crisp. Compare... [Lire la suite]