Anyang period

The Personal Collection of the late Sir Joseph Hotung. Lot 104. An archaic bone carving, Shang dynasty, Anyang period, 14th-13th century BC; 9.4 cm. Lot sold: 378,000 HKD (Estimate: 100,000 - 150,000 HKD). © Sotheby's 2022 the thick shaft of animal bone incised finely with a pair of large confronted kui dragons shown in profile, coming across the narrow edge to form a zoomorphic mask, and with two smaller kui dragons forming another zoomorphic mask on the... [Lire la suite]

Ceremonial ax. Ritual device. Shang dynasty, Anyang period, 12th-11th Century BC. Xincun, Junxian, Henan province. Bronze, green patina; 30.4 x 35 x 3.5 cm. Weight: 4.8 kg. Ident.Nr. 1962-4. Collection: Museum of Asian Art. Photo: Petra Stüning © Photo: Museum of Asian Art, the National Museums in Berlin - Prussian Cultural Heritage. The broadax with a slightly curved blade shows both sides of a plastic mask by educated people with large staring eyes and open, "smiling" mouth. Teeth and ears are open work.The end seaming tape... [Lire la suite]

Until about 4000 years ago, various peoples occupied the regions along the Yellow River and the Yangzi, and the east coast of modern China. The earliest documented dynasty was the Shang (around 1600-1050 BC), based in central north China. In this period society developed a religious system and written records. The material culture of the Shang dynasty is notable for its cast bronze ritual vessels. These are the only examples of early metalwork to be cast from piece moulds rather than assembled from sheets of beaten metal. Casting was... [Lire la suite]

  A rare and brilliantly enamelled ruby-ground 'yangcai' 'floral' bowl. Yongzheng yuzhi four-character mark and of the period. Photo: Bonhams HONG KONG.- The Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art auction features a cornucopia of works of art from the sublime to niche collectibles, reflecting the rich diversity of China's Imperial and artistic output.  The sale includes several private collections of fine quality Chinese antiques, including:  Chinese Jades from the Collection of John and Berthe Ford The collection... [Lire la suite]

        Ornament in the form of a human face. Longshan culture (ca. 3000'17'' B.C.E.). Jade (nephrite). Photo: Freer Gallery of Art. WASHINGTON, DC.- Ancient jades and bronzes widely considered to be among the greatest treasures of Chinese art returned to public view at the Smithsonian’s Freer Gallery of Art Nov. 20. More than 100 works have been reinstalled in two newly renovated galleries after more than a decade in storage. Chinese jade carvings and vessels cast from bronze are some of the oldest and... [Lire la suite]