Page 60 - Bonhams Cornette Saint Cyr, Property from the estate of Jean-Pierre Rousset (1936-2021)

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RARE FIBULE EN BRONZE DORÉ Belt hooks with dated inscriptions, such as the present lot, are
Dynastie des Han orientaux, datée de l’an 76 ap. J.-C et d’époque extremely rare. The inscription on the reverse of the belt hook dates
the piece to the Fifth Month of the First Year of Jianchu, corresponding
A RARE GILT-BRONZE DOCUMENTARY BELT-HOOK to 76 AD.
Eastern Han Dynasty, dated 76 AD and of the period
The arched shaft shaped as the sinuous body of a dragon, finely inlaid Only approximately 50 years before this belt hook was made, the Han
in gold with swirling clouds and waves, the hook formed by a small dynasty re-established itself after Wang Mang’s short-lived Xin dynasty
dragon head with large snout and bulging eyes, the reverse inscribed ended in 23 AD. The Han dynasty in this period, known to historians
in gold with a calligraphic inscription and set with a circular button as the later Han dynasty or the Eastern Han dynasty (because the
decorated with geometric designs. capital had been moved from Chang’an in the west to Luoyang in the
14cm (5 1/2in) long. east) was still in a relatively vulnerable position. During Wang Mang’s
reign, the Xin dynasty lost control over the Tarim Basin in the west. A
€5,000 - 8,000 year before the present lot was made, the new Protector General of
the Western Regions Chen Mu was killed by allies of the Xiongnu, and
Provenance: the garrison at Hami retreated. It was not until 91 AD, that the famous
Robert Rousset, Paris (1901-1981), acquired prior to 1935 general and historian Ban Chao reasserted Han control of the Western
Jean-Pierre Rousset, Paris (1936-2021) Regions after crushing rebellions in Kashgar (80 AD) and Yarkand (88
AD). Just twenty years after the present lot was made, in 97 AD, Ban
Chao was able to send Gan Ying as an envoy, who reached the Black
Sea and left the first recorded Chinese account of Europe.

東漢 公元七六年 鎏金銅龍首帶鉤
來源：
巴黎Robert Rousset（1901-1981）舊藏，於1935年前入藏
巴黎Jean-Pierre Rousset（1936-2021）舊藏

建初元年五月五日丙午造辟兵保身鉤

58 | BONHAMS