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ANOTHER PROPERTY 另一收藏 THE PROPERTY OF A NOBLEMAN 男爵藏品

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A RARE GILT-BRONZE CIRCULAR PLAQUE WITH BEAR FINIAL A PAINTED POTTERY MODEL OF A CAPARISONED HORSE
Han Dynasty Eastern Wei Dynasty
The circular plaque finely decorated with floral petals and lozenges Naturalistically modelled standing foursquare on a rectangular base
within beaded borders enclosing abstract cloud scrolls, centred on a with a long arched neck and elongated head, lavishly caparisoned
separate finial in the form of a bear mask detailed with bulging eyes, with a horned and tassel-hung bridle, tasseled and medallion-applied
upright ears and mane, crouching on its claws, stand. crupper, a long knotted cloth draped over the saddle, with traces of
10.8cm (4 1/4in) diam. (3). white, red, and gold pigments remaining. 45cm (17 6/8in) high

£4,000 - 6,000 £12,000 - 18,000
CNY35,000 - 52,000 CNY100,000 - 160,000

漢 銅鎏金羆首飾件 東魏 陶胎馬俑
Provenance: A European private collection
Provenance: Robert Hatfield Ellsworth (1929-2014) 來源： 歐洲私人收藏
Sotheby’s New York, The Robert Hatfield Ellsworth Collection:
Chinese Archaic & Gilt Bronzes, 19 March 2002, lot 148

來源： 安思遠先生(1929-2014)舊藏 The result of a thermoluminescence test, Oxford Authentication Ltd.,
2002年3月19日於紐約蘇富比「The Robert Hatfield Ellsworth No.C198t55, 28 July 1998, is consistent with the dating of this lot.
Collection: Chinese Archaic & Gilt Bronzes(安思遠珍藏中國高古及鎏金
銅器)」專場拍賣，拍品148號 Carefully fashioned with close attention to detail such as detailed
harnesses embellished with conch shells and bells, and floating
Bears were powerful symbols of strength and bravery during the blankets that resembled flowing wings, the horse is a fine example of
Han dynasty, when they also appear to have been linked to beliefs the limited sculptural production of the Wei dynasty that has survived
concerning the attainment of immortality. In this context, bears were to this date. It is possible that the horse may have been imported
amongst the real and imaginary creatures frolicking on the immortal from the Central Asian region of Ferghana, whose horses were highly
islands depicted on a variety of vessels and relief carvings excavated favoured by the Chinese Imperial court and upper classes for their
from Han burials. See J.Lagerway, Early Chinese Religion. Part One: spirit and vitality. Compare a similar horse, Wei dynasty, illustrated in
Shang through Han (1250 BC-220 AD), Boston, 2008. The Tsui Museum of Art: Chinese Ceramics, Neolithic to Liao, Vol.1,
Hong Kong, 1993, no.71; and another, sold at Christie’s New York,
22 March 1999, lot 221.

48 | BONHAMS For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue.