Page 82 - 2011 - The Frank Arts Collection, Chinese Bronzes
P. 82

28. Archaic bronze chimera oil lamp or water dropper












                        Eastern Han dynasty, 25 – 220 AD
                        Length: 17 cm.





                               Bronze chimera cast in the form of a crouching fabulous winged beast. The
                        animal is grasping an ear-cup in its jaws.
                        The beast’s head has a blunt snout, triangular ears and bushy eyebrows. Its body
                        is  cast  with  tufts  of  incised  fur,  some  areas  of  which  are  stamped  with  spot-like
                        motifs.
                        Bronze with dark-green patina.


                        Provenance :
                           -  J.J. Lally & Co, New York, 19….
                           -  F rank Arts Collection, Belgium.

                        Similar example:
                           -  A similar water container in shape of animal, from the Avery Brundage
                           Collection  is  illustrated  by  Lefebvre  d’Argencé  R.Y,  Avery  Brundage
                           Collection, The Ancient Chinese Bronzes, San Francisco 1966,p. 105 plate
                           XLVIII -  B.


































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