Page 20 - 2021 March 18th Junkunc Collection Christie's New York City

IMPORTANT CHINESE ART FROM THE JUNKUNC COLLECTION | 瓊肯珍藏重要中國藝術

603
AN UNUSUAL TURQUOISE-INLAID
BRONZE BOW-SHAPED FITTING
WITH JINGLE ENDS
LATE SHANG-EARLY WESTERN ZHOU
DYNASTY, 13TH-11TH CENTURY BC
The bowed top is decorated with a central boss inlaid
with turquoise that centers three inlaid bands, the
central band continuing onto and forming the center of
the arched ends which terminate in hollow horse heads
that enclose loose balls to create a jingling sound.
15Ω in. (39.4 cm) long
$20,000-30,000

PROVENANCE:
Stephen Junkunc, III (d. 1978) Collection.

The exact function of bronze fittings of this type
appears to still to be in question. One theory is that
such fittings were mounted on bows, as shown in a
line drawing illustrated by Cheng Dong and Zhong
Tao, Ancient Chinese Weapons - A Collection of
Pictures, Beijing, 1990, p. 34, fig. 2-69. Another theory
is that they would have been worn at the front of an
equestrian’s waist, almost like a belt hook, to serve as
a tool for hanging the reins in order to free the rider’s
hands to use his bow and arrow.
For a similar fitting with horse-head jingles and
turquoise inlay see the example found in 1976 at
Xiaodun, Anyang, illustrated in Zhongguo Qingtongqi
quanji, vol. 3, Shang, Beijing, 1997, p. 208, pl. 207,
where four others with spherical jingles are also
illustrated, pp. 209-14, pls. 208-12. Another turquoise-
inlaid example with horse-head jingles is illustrated in
Ancient Chinese Arts in the Idemitsu Collection, Tokyo,
1989, pl. 89.

晚商/西周早期 公元前十三至十一世紀
銅嵌綠松石弓型器
來源:
史蒂芬 • 瓊肯三世（1978年逝）珍藏。

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