J.J. Lally & Co., Oriental Art / New York City, New York
MenuPast Exhibition
Ancient Chinese Bronzes
March 19 - April 9, 2011
26.
ELEMENTS FROM A SET OF INLAID BRONZE CHARIOT FITTINGS
AND HORSE TRAPPINGS
Early Western Han Dynasty, late 3rd – 2nd Century B.C.
a slender shield-shaped horse frontlet (danglu) inlaid in gold with knobbed swirling cloud scroll motifs in a symmetrical arrangement and embellished with agate and turquoise inlays throughout, the reverse with loops for attachment.
a dragonhead-form open-ended terminal with tubular core and slender rising half-round back piece, inlaid in gold with scroll, spiral and flame motifs and embellished with agate and turquoise inlays throughout.
a dragonhead-form terminal with slender rising half-round back piece, inlaid in gold with scroll, spiral and flame motifs and embellished with agate and turquoise inlays throughout.
a pair of arched ‘U’-shaped rein-guides inlaid in gold and silver with interlaced cloud scroll motifs.
a pair of wide rings, each rounded on one side and inlaid in gold with cloud scroll motifs surrounding turquoise and agate bosses, the flattened reverse inlaid in gold with interlaced cloud scroll motifs.
a pair of small oval half-round ornaments inlaid with gold cloud scroll motifs surrounding turquoise and agate bosses, the reverse with loops for attachment.
a group of four finials from a chariot canopy, each of slender tubular form tapered slightly to a rounded terminal above a short curved spike projecting at one side, inlaid in gold with scroll motifs and with turquoise and agate bosses within gold-inlaid zigzag lines on the knobs.
a pair of snaffle bits each with a twist-fluted shaft to be held in the horse’s teeth and with twin oval terminals inlaid in gold with cloud scroll motifs surrounding turquoise and agate bosses.
a pair of slender ‘S’-shaped cheek-pieces for a bridle, each pierced with two slots to receive the straps and with wing-shaped flanges on opposite sides of either end, inlaid in gold with interlaced cloud scroll motifs on both sides, and embellished with turquoise and agate inlays on one side.
Frontlet (danglu) Length 10 7⁄8 inches (27.6 cm); Terminal Length 4 7⁄8 inches (12.5 cm); Terminal Length 5 inches (12.7 cm); Rein Guides Width 3 1⁄4 inches (8.3 cm) each; Rings Diameter 1 15⁄16 inches (4.8 cm) each; Oval Ornaments Length 1 1⁄8 inches (2.8 cm) each; Finials Length 2 3⁄4 inches (7 cm) each; Snaffle Bits Length 8 3⁄4 inches (22.1 cm) and 8 3⁄8 inches (21.2 cm); Cheek-Pieces Length 9 inches (22.8 cm) each
Similar inlaid bronze chariot fittings and horse trappings with turquoise and agate embellishments discovered in the tomb of prince Liu Sheng (d. 113 B.C.) at Lingshan, Mancheng, Hebei province are illustrated in the excavation report, Mancheng Han mu fajue baogao (Excavation of the Han Tombs at Man-ch’eng), Vol.s I and II, Beijing, 1980; see Vol. II: pls. 124, 125, 129, 133, 139, 141, 143, 223, and 228; and line drawings in Vol. I: fig.s 129, 131, 132, 136, 137, and 219.
For a detailed description and illustrations of a Western Han chariot with inlaid bronze fittings discovered in Changqing county, Shandong province, see article “Reconstruction and Study of the Horse-drawn Carriage No. 1 from Han Tomb No. 1 on Shuangru Hill” by Cui in Kaogu, 1997, No. 3, pp. 16-25 and pl. 4.
A reconstructed version of the Western Han dynasty chariot excavated in 1992 at Maoling, Shaanxi province with original inlaid bronze fittings was shown in the special exhibition organized by the Kentucky Horse Park and published in the catalogue entitled Imperial China: The Art of the Horse in Chinese History, Prospect, 2000, pp. 130-131, no. 111.
西漢早期 錯金銀鑲嵌銅車馬具
當顱 長 27.6 厘米
衡帽 長 12.5 厘米
衡帽 長 12.7 厘米
轙一對 各寬 8.3 厘米
環一對 各徑 4.8 厘米
泡一對 各長 2.8 厘米
蓋弓帽四只 各長 7 厘米
衘二只 長 22.1 及 21.2 厘米
鑣一對 各長 22.8 厘米
26.
ELEMENTS FROM A SET OF INLAID BRONZE CHARIOT FITTINGS
AND HORSE TRAPPINGS
Early Western Han Dynasty, late 3rd – 2nd Century B.C.