Page 254 - Bonhams Chinese Art NYC Nov 9 2017

190
A RARE GILT-BRONZE CIRCULAR PLAQUE
WITH BEAR FINIAL
Han Dynasty
The circular plaque finely decorated with floral petals
and lozenges within beaded borders enclosing
abstract cloud scrolls, a separate finial in the form of
a bear mask detailed with bulging eyes, upright ears
and mane, crouching on its claws, stand.
10.8cm (4 1/4in) diam. (3).

£2,000 - 3,000
CNY18,000 - 27,000

漢 銅鎏金羆首飾件

Provenance: Robert Hatfield Ellsworth (1929-2014)
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
2002年3月19日於紐約蘇富比「The Robert Hatfield
Ellsworth 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

Bears were powerful symbols of strength and
bravery during the Han dynasty, when they also
190 appear to have been linked to beliefs concerning
the attainment of Immortality. In this context, bears
were amongst the real and imaginary creatures
frolicking on the Immortal islands depicted on a
variety of vessels and relief carvings excavated from
Han burials. See J.Lagerway, Early Chinese Religion.
Part One: Shang through Han (1250 BC-220 AD),
Boston, 2008.

191
A BRONZE ‘LION AND GRAPVEINE’ MIRROR
Tang Dynasty
Crisply cast with a central crouching mythical beast
knop, encircled by a band of six recumbent lions
amongst fruiting grape vines, surrounded by a band
with birds and lions amongst vines, floral scroll at the
rim, the reverse entirely plain.
14.4cm (5 6/8in) diam.

£2,000 - 3,000
CNY18,000 - 27,000

唐 銅海獸葡萄紋鏡

Provenance: an Italian private collection

來源： 意大利私人收藏

For a similar example, see J.Chou, Circles of
Reflection: The Carter Collection of Chinese Bronze
Mirrors, Cleveland, 2000, no.55, where the author
suggests dating the mirror to the late 7th Century,
based upon a similar example found in the tomb
of Dugu Shizhen, at Xian and dated to 698; and
for another lion and grapevine bronze mirror, Tang
dynasty, see the Royal Academy of Arts International
191 Exhibition of Chinese Art, London, 1935, no.669.

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