Page 81 - March 16, 2017 Chinese Art, The Harris Collection, Christies
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TWO RARE GILT-BRONZE RECTANGULAR PLAQUES
NORTHERN WEI DYNASTY (AD 386-534)
Each fat plaque is incised and gilded on one side with an animal, one a striding dragon,
the other a recumbent feline with trefoil-tufted tail, each repeated in thread relief
on the reverse below a dated inscription. The corners of each plaque are pierced for
attachment.
3æ in. (9.5 cm.) wide, box
(2)
$4,000-6,000
PROVENANCE
The Erwin Harris Collection, Miami, Florida, by 1981.
The inscription on the ‘dragon’ plaque, Da Wei Taiping renwu siyue zao, may be
translated, “made during the fourth month of the renwu year (AD 442) of the Taiping
reign of the Great Wei.” The inscription on the ‘tiger’ plaque, Xiaochang bingwu linyue
zao, may be translated, “made in the sixth month of the bingwu year (AD 526) of the
Xiaochang period.”
北魏 鎏金銅瑞獸紋飾牌一對
(reverse)
79
