Chinese Art Online: A Private Asian Collection
Chinese Art Online: A Private Asian Collection
A pair of bronze 'chimera' weights, Han dynasty 漢 青銅辟邪鎮紙一對
Lot Closed
January 19, 02:06 AM GMT
Estimate
300,000 - 400,000 HKD
Lot Details
Description
A pair of bronze 'chimera' weights,
Han dynasty
漢 青銅辟邪鎮紙一對
d. 7.8 cm
with an iridescent sheen to the metal surface
Acquired in Japan, 1990s, by repute.
來源：
傳1990年代購自日本
來源：
傳1990年代購自日本
The present weights are cast in the form of a chimaera, generally known as bixie (literally 'to avert evil spirits'), standing on a mountainous rock base. For related weights, see an Eastern Han example exhibited in Eskenazi, Animals and Animal Designs in Chinese Art, New York, 1998, cat. no. 12; and three examples from the Feng Wen Tang collection, attributed to the Spring and Autumn period, sold at Guardian Hong Kong, 6th October 2015, lots 97 and 112. See also a related Eastern Han bixie weight, without the mountain base, sold at Bonhams Hong Kong, 24th November 2013, lot 529.
Bronze animals that exist from this time generally had a functional purpose, being cast as weights, fittings, tallies, belt hooks or supports. Such bronzes were most probably used in daily life, even if some were eventually buried with important personalities. For various suggestions as to the use and line drawings of bronze weights, see Sun Ji, 'Han zhen yishu', Wenwu, vol. 6, 1983, pp. 69-72.
Bronze animals that exist from this time generally had a functional purpose, being cast as weights, fittings, tallies, belt hooks or supports. Such bronzes were most probably used in daily life, even if some were eventually buried with important personalities. For various suggestions as to the use and line drawings of bronze weights, see Sun Ji, 'Han zhen yishu', Wenwu, vol. 6, 1983, pp. 69-72.