Page 102 - Christie's Hong Kong November 29, 2022 Chang e Wha Collection of Jades

2764
A VERY RARE SET OF JADE
AND BRONZE ‘CHILONG’
CHARIOT FITTINGS
WESTERN HAN DYNASTY (206 BC-AD 8)
The set is comprised of two jade fittings with bronze ends which
can be fitted with each other, one tubular fitting is hollow, the other
with a solid terminal. Both jade ends are carved with pairs of sinuous
chilong dragons with scroll-like bodies.
6¿ in. (15.7 cm.) overall length, box

HK$350,000-450,000 US$45,000-58,000

P R O V E N AN C E
Dexinshuwu Collection, acquired in Taipei in 1997
This very rare set of jade and bronze fittings, known as pi ni as
recorded in ancient texts, would have been an integral part of a
parasol installed in a Han-dynasty chariot driven by horses. Pi ni
were normally made in bronze or gold and silver-inlaid bronze.
The current set, inlaid with bronze and white jade elaborately
carved with chilong dragons, is exceptionally lavish, an indication
that the owner was likely a nobleman of high stature. (fig. 1) is
a drawing to illustrate how the current set of fittings would have
been positioned in an ancient chariot (see Liu Yonghua, Zhongguo
gudai cheyu maju, Beijing, 2013).
rubbings of the present lot
本拍品之拓片
西漢 玉嵌銅螭龍紋筒形車馬 輗飾件一套兩節
來源
德馨書屋舊藏，1997年購於台北

此件玉質「䡟輗」，為「德馨書屋」舊藏。通常15.7公分，分為兩節，
一節兩端穿透，一節只一端穿孔另一端磨平，兩節之間以鋸齒狀
銅件環扣相接，極為緊密；兩節玉身部分，皆浮雕螭龍紋及勾連雲
紋，夭矯靈動，精緻細膩，工藝絕佳。這種「䡟輗」，材質多為青銅或
錯金銀，玉銅結合的極為罕見。能用此種材質作為車馬構件，主人
身分必然顯貴尊榮。（圖一）參考了《中國古代車輿馬具》（劉永華
著）裏的繪製圖，闡述本拍品作為䡟輗飾件，在古代馬車中原來的
位置。

fig. 1
圖一

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