Page 36 - Chinese Art Auction April 25, 2020 2020 Galerie Zacke

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A suPeRb bRONZe FIguRe OF A bull,
lATe WARRINg sTATes TO eARly hAN dyNAsTy

China, probably Kingdom of Dian, 3rd-2nd century BC. Hollow cast, the
stocky, muscular bull standing four square on distinct hoofs, its head
held high, with rounded bulging eyes, flaring nostrils, closed mouth,
the spoon-shaped ears flanking a broad bull neck, its tail curled, with a
partially encrusted olive-grey patina and some malachite encrustation.
Provenance: The reinhold Hofstätter collection, Vienna, and thence by
decent. By repute acquired ca. 1960-1970.
condition: Losses, fissures and naturally grown patina as visible on
the images at www.zacke.at. One small and original piece is visibly re-
attached. No touch-ups or any kind of overpainting whatsoever. Overall
good condition especially when considering the high age of this bronze.
Weight: 494 g
Dimensions: Length 18.5 cm
Dian was an ancient kingdom situated in modern Yunnan, southwestern
China. According to Han historian, Sima Qian, it was established in 279 BC
when King Qingxiang of Chu sent a military force to the southwest. Zhuang
Qiao, a general of Chu, reached the Dian Lake as part of the Chu military
campaign. When the Chu homeland was invaded by the Qin, Zhuang Qiao
decided to stay in Yunnan and adopt the native ways, establishing the Dian
kingdom. The Qin dynasty was subsequently overthrown by the Han, and
the commanderies of the new dynasty, Ba and Shu, bordered Dian.
Literature comparison: For stylistic comparison, see a Warring States
bronze horse in the M. H. de young Memorial Museum, San Francisco, from
the Avery Brundage Collection, published in rené-yvon Lefebvre d’Argencé,
Ancient Chinese Bronzes in the Avery Brundage Collection, Berkeley, 1966,
pl. XLVIII, no. C. See also a related Ordos bronze horse from the collection
of Mrs. E. Bennett, exhibited in the Exhibition of Chinese Art, Berlin,
1929, cat. no. 89, sold at Sotheby’s London, 24th May 1955, lot 26. Also
compare with a Pair of Standing Bovines from the Western Han Dynasty,
on loan from the Guangxi Institute of Cultural Properties Preservation and
Archaeology, Excavated from Tomb no. 26 at Fengmenling, Hepu county,
Guangxi, 2003, exhibited in New york, The Metropolitan Museum of Art in
Age of Empires: Chinese Art of the Qin and Han Dynasties (221 B.C.–A.D.
200), April 3, 2017–July 16, 2017.

AucTION ResulT cOMPARIsON
Compare with a bronze horse at Sotheby’s New york in
Junkunc: Arts of Ancient China, 19 March 2019, lot 139,
sold for USD $50,000. Also compare with a Western
Han ox-form oil lamp at Christies New york in The Sze
yuan Tang Archaic Bronzes from the Anthony Hardy
Collection, 16 September 2010, lot 892, sold for USD
USD $25,000.

青銅牛，戰國晚期至漢代初
中國，可能爲滇國，公元前三至二世紀。空心，矮胖、肌肉發達的公牛四蹄著地，擡
頭，眼睛圓鼓，鼻孔和嘴巴張開，兩側湯匙形的耳朵，尾巴彎曲，局部著橄欖灰色銅
綠和一些孔雀石綠色結殼。
來源：維也納Reinhold Hofstätter收藏，家族保存至今。據説大約購於1960-1970
年。
品相：裂縫、缺損和自然生長的包漿，細圖可見www.zacke.at。小修補明顯可見，
無任何形式的黏貼和修飾。 總體而言，品相良好，尤其是考慮到青銅牛的年代。
重量：494 克
尺寸：長 18.5 厘米
拍賣結果比較：一件相近的青銅馬2019年3月19日于紐約蘇富比《中國古文物》拍
號 139， 成交價USD $50.000。另外一件西漢牛形油燈于紐約佳士得《The Sze Yuan
Tang Archaic Bronzes from the Anthony Hardy Collection》拍號892，成交價
USD $25.000。
estimate euR 5.000,-
Starting price EUr 2.500,-

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