J.J. Lally & Co., Oriental Art / New York City, New York
MenuPast Exhibition
Bronze and Gold in Ancient China
March 24 - April 12, 2003
22.
AN INSCRIBED GOLD MEDALLION-FORM AMULET
Xin Dynasty (A.D. 9-23)
in the traditional shape of a Chinese coin, the thick disc with an auspicious inscription of twelve characters applied in square-cut gold wire on both sides, skillfully arranged to fill the space between the plain raised borders around the outer rim and the square central aperture, the surface of the gold showing some faint reddish patination and traces of earth from burial.
Diameter 1 3⁄8 inches (3.5 cm)
The inscription maybe read as “Guzi yuan bing (li) laomu. Guqie xing ai qianli”, which may be translated as “The orphan wishes to show filial devotion to the aged mother. The widow mourns the deceased husband a thousand miles away.”
The reading and translation above were provided by Professer Rende Hua, research librarian at the Suzhou University Library and Professor Qianshen Bai, Boston University.
Additional Images (Touch to enlarge)
22.
AN INSCRIBED GOLD MEDALLION-FORM AMULET
Xin Dynasty (A.D. 9-23)
Diameter 1 3⁄8 inches (3.5 cm)