Page 405 - The Golden Age of Chinese Archaeology: Celebrated Discoveries from the People’s Republic of China
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Bronze ram-shaped lamp Lamps appear relatively late in the repertoire of
Chinese bronzes, and seem to have come into use
Height 18.6 (/Vs), length 23.0 (9 Vs)
only during the Eastern Zhou period. Fine examples
Western Han Dynasty, late second century BCE dating to the mid-fourth century have come from
(c. 113) the tombs of the early Zhongshan kingdom of the
From the tomb of Liu Sheng at Lingshan,
Mancheng, Hebei Province Di people; these tombs contain spectacular exam-
ples, one in the shape of a tree, from which hang
Hebei Provincial Museum, Shijiazhuang various monkeys, and another in the form of an
unusual being, perhaps an immortal, holding lamp
1
trays supported by snakes. Other pieces from the
Chu state in the south include lamps held in the
404 EARLY I M P E R I A L CHIN A