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THBChinese Wei Dynasty Gilt Leaded Bronze Taotie Applique
Lot 65a
About Seller
Artemis Gallery
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
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Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$5,000 - $7,500
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About Auction
Live
By Artemis Gallery
Aug 26, 2021
Set Reminder
2021-08-26 10:00:00
2021-08-26 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Fine Antiquities | Asian | Ethnographic Art
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/fine-antiquities-asian-ethnographic-art-7366
Features classical antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art from cultures encompassing the globe. Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Etruscan, Near Eastern, Asian, Pre-Columbian, Native American, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Spanish Colonial, Russian, Fine / Visual Arts, so much more! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
Features classical antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art from cultures encompassing the globe. Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Etruscan, Near Eastern, Asian, Pre-Columbian, Native American, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Spanish Colonial, Russian, Fine / Visual Arts, so much more! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (343)
- Lot Description
East Asia, China, Northern Wei Dynasty, ca. 386 to 534 CE. An enchanting leaded bronze taotie face applique with a thick gilt of 24% (equivalent to 5K+)! The taotie is a mythological creature with a ferocious appetite, and here he is characteristically shown with a symmetrical forward-facing visage with scrolling horns, bulging eyes, curled upper lip, and two pointed teeth. This applique would be attached to the side of a wooden door or coffin, and a ring handle would fit through the loop formed under the creature's snout. Such mask faces are cast separately, and this taotie would be attached to the wooden panel exterior by four piercings around the periphery with rivets. The size and thick layer of gold on this applique suggests the applique would have been one in a set meant for an important individual. A green patina has developed across most of the applique, but the gilt shimmers through, contrasting beautifully with the aged layers. Size: 5" W x 5.25" H (12.7 cm x 13.3 cm); 6" H (15.2 cm) on included custom stand; gold gilt quality: 24% (equivalent to 5K+)
The taotie is one of the "four fiends" or "four evil creatures" of Chinese mythology, and it is a particularly fascinating and ancient symbol seen on ancient bronzes. In the Lushi Chunqiu, known in English as Master Lu's Spring and Autumn Annals, a Chinese encyclopedia compiled around 239 BCE, the taotie is described thusly: "The taotie on Zhou bronzes has a head but no body. When it eats people, it does not swallow them, but harms them" (16/3a Prophecy). This and other ancient descriptions of the creature suggest that it related to making food offerings/sacrifices for the insatiable spirits of the dead. Some scholars believe that the creature is part of the mysterious communication between people and the gods.
A similar example with a small demon figure hammered for $32,500 at Christie's, New York "Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art" auction (auction 2726, September 19-20, 2013, lot 1458)
This piece has been searched against the Art Loss Register database and has been cleared. The Art Loss Register maintains the world's largest database of stolen art, collectibles, and antiques.
Provenance: ex-Joe Loux, San Francisco, California, USA, 1980s
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#167037Some oxidation and russet patina around piercing holes. Surface wear and abrasions as expected with age and exposure to elements. Intact with wonderful gilt areas. Earthen and mineral deposits with areas of green patina.Condition
- Shipping Info
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