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THBRare Chinese Ming Dynasty Iron Eagle Claw Mace
Lot 96a
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:
$4,000 - $6,000
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About Auction
Live
By Artemis Gallery
Feb 13, 2020
Set Reminder
2020-02-13 10:00:00
2020-02-13 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Exceptional Antiquities, Asian, Ethnographic
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-antiquities-asian-ethnographic-4848
An important one-day auction featuring museum-worthy examples of Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Etruscan, Near Eastern, Far East / Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Native American, Spanish Colonial, Russian, Fossils, Ancient Jewelry, Fine Art, so much more! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
An important one-day auction featuring museum-worthy examples of Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Etruscan, Near Eastern, Far East / Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Native American, Spanish Colonial, Russian, Fossils, Ancient Jewelry, Fine Art, so much more! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (411)
- Lot Description
East Asia, China, Ming Dynasty, ca. 1368 to 1644 CE. A gorgeous cast-iron mace of a hefty form with a slender body and handle, a stylized lion head that doubles as a hand guard and a spherical pommel with scalloped ribs. At the striking end of the mace is a terrifying and meticulously detailed eagle claw bearing grooved feathery patterns, four curved talons with sharpened tips, and a fifth dorsal talon flared out in the opposite direction. The unusual aspect of this weapon is that, unlike the eagle's four talons, this claw bears five curved digits that imbues it with an intriguing chimeric presentation with both avian and anthropomorphic qualities. A fascinating example of a flesh-rending weapon enveloped in attractive silvery patina. Size: 23.375" L x 3.375" W (59.4 cm x 8.6 cm); 20.1" H (51.1 cm) on included custom stand.
The Ming period was one of great social unrest as well as warfare - the surviving portions of the Great Wall date from this dynasty, and it maintained a massive standing army both to defend against foreign enemies and police internal society. The rise of warrior monks and accompanying martial arts had begun in the centuries before, but during the Ming period, they began to codify their rules. This led to the creation of the first list of the Eighteen Weapons of Wushu, the list of weapons used by martial artists in hand-to-hand combat. The novel "Water Margin", written during this time and one of China's most popular works of fiction, lists the weapons, which includes maces like this one.
Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection, acquired in October 2017; ex-Artemis Gallery; ex-private New Jersey, USA collection, acquired prior to 1997
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.
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#152874Minor abrasions to handle, body, and claw, with softening to some finer details, and light encrustations within some recessed areas, otherwise intact and excellent. Great traces of original detailing and fabulous silvery patina throughout.Condition
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