Lot 1127. A bronze chanfron, Late Shang-Early Western Zhou dynasty, 12th-11th century BC; 11¾ in. (29.8 cm.) long. Estimate USD 4,000 - USD 6,000. Price realised USD 11,250. © Christie's Images Ltd 2013

The harness frontal is cast with a long, hemispherical 'tongue' that issues from a taotie mask with pierced bulbous eyes. A narrow strap tranverses the hollow back of the 'tongue' and there are two corner straps on the reverse of the bottom of the mask. The bronze has a mottled brownish and green patina with areas of malachite encrustation.

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

Literature: The Raymond A. Bidwell Collection of Chinese Bronzes and Ceramics, Museum of Fine Arts, Springfield, Massachusetts, 1965, pp. 42-43.

Note: A similar bronze chanfron in the Richard B. Bull Collection is illustrated in the exhibition catalogue, Arts of the Chou Dynasty, Stanford University Museum, 1958, no. 33.

Christie's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, New York, 21 - 22 March 2013