Western Zhou Dynasty

Beast of prey, Western Zhou dynasty, ca 1000 BC. Jade; height 2,6 cm, width 6,2 cm. National Gallery of Prague, Vp 2463. Jade was used in ancient China to make not only small figurines, pendants and ornaments but, in the first place, special ritual objects such as the circular bi disk and the elongated cong tube. The magic power of jade was moreover often combined with the symbolic meaning of a certain motif or form. A beast of prey or a tiger was a favorite shape of small carvings produced by members of the ancient warrior... [Lire la suite]

Locust, Western Zhou dynasty, 10th–9th century BC. Jade, height 4 cm, width 2,6 cm. National Gallery of Prague, Vp 2441. Jade was used in ancient China to make not only small figurines, pendants and ornaments but, in the first place, special ritual objects such as the circular bi disk and the elongated cong tube. The magic power of jade was moreover often combined with the symbolic meaning of a certain motif or form. For example, jade plugs, which were put into the mouth of the dead, are often shaped as a locust – symbol of the... [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]

  Zhi (wine vessel) of Xiao Chen Shan, King Cheng’s reign of the Western Zhou dynasty (first half of the 11th century BCE). Height 13.9 cm, Length of mouth 9.4 cm, Width of mouth 11.6 cm. Gift of Li Yinxuan and Qiu Hui, 1979. © Shanghai Museum

Twin-hare Decoration for Horizontal Drawbar (Heng), Western Zhou dynasty (11th century-771 BCE). Bronze. Length 16.4 cm.© Shanghai Museum Heng often refers to a wooden drawbar attached horizontally to the chariot yoke for managing the horse. This bronze sleeve, with a pair of hare figures sitting on it, serves to reinforce and decorate the drawbar put through. The two hares seem ready to hop away in the opposite direction, with their heads low and front legs lifted. Cloud motifs appear on both sides of their bellies.

Lot 22. An archaic green jade dragon-form huang pendant, Warring States period;  5/8in (37.2cm) high. Sold for US$6,375 (Estimate US$700 - 900). © Bonhams 2001-2023 The thin plaque simply carved as the silhouette of a horned dragon looking back towards its forked tail, the 'S'-shaped body supported by the curled wing and clawed feet, a small aperture drilled at the center for stringing, the surface plain, the translucent stone mottled with natural inclusions softly polished to a silky... [Lire la suite]

Lot 452. A grey and brown jade notched disc, Shang dynasty; d. 9 cm. Lot sold: 50,400 HKD (Estimate: 40,000 - 60,000 HKD). © 2022 Sotheby's. Lot 452. A grey and brown jade notched disc, Shang dynasty; d. 14.5 cm. Lot sold: 81,900 HKD (Estimate: 30,000 - 50,000 HKD). © 2022 Sotheby's. Provenance: Acquired in Hong Kong in November 1983.Sotheby's Hong Kong, 1st June 2017, lot 317. Lot 455. A greyish celadon jade ‘rabbit’... [Lire la suite]

  Lot 205. A gold and silver-inlaid archaistic bronze censer, Qing dynasty, 18th century. Width 31.5 cm, 12⅜ in. Lot sold: £13,860 (Estimate: £10,000 - 15,000). © 2022 Sotheby's. cast beneath the handle with a three-character inscription reading Wo Fu Ji. Property from the Grasset collection. Provenance: Christie's London, 8th December 1986, lot 385. Note: The rise of Neoconfucianism in the Song dynasty (960-1279) led to a revival of interest in archaic bronze vessels,... [Lire la suite]

          This September, Sotheby’s is privileged to present extraordinary collections of rare and exceptional Chinese archaic bronzes, Buddhist sculptures and thangkas, jades, porcelain as well as an important single-owner collection of Korean ceramics in five remarkable live and online auctions. © Sotheby's 2022 Leading the week is POWER / CONQUEST: The Forging of Empires, a landmark auction of exceptional archaic bronze vessels and weapons. This sale of 30 lots will explore the themes of... [Lire la suite]