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A GILT BRONZE ‘MONKEY AND PEACH’ SEAL, NORTHERN WEI DYNASTY
奥地利
09月12日 下午5点 开拍 / 09月10日 下午3点 截止委托
拍品描述

Description

A GILT BRONZE ‘MONKEY AND PEACH’ SEAL, NORTHERN WEI DYNASTY

China, 534-557. Finely cast in the form of a crouching monkey atop a square seal base, depicted holding a peach close to its chest. The long tail curving gracefully along the spine, while the head is held high, featuring large, protruding eyes above a broad snout and flanked by prominent, rounded ears. The bronze with a naturally grown patina with areas of malachite encrustations.

Inscriptions: The seal face with a four-character seal script, ‘Hejian Taishou’ [‘Governor of Hejian’].

Expert’s note:
This seal originates from the Jun and Xian districts. Historical records indicate that the father of Deng Yanhai, a minister of the Northern Wei dynasty, held the title Hejian Taishou. Notably, this title dates back to the Qin dynasty, as evidenced by clay seals from that period.

Provenance: A private collection in Italy, 2014. Collection of Dr. Koos de Jong, acquired from the above. A Dutch art historian and collector, Dr. Koos de Jong has worked across several cultural institutions in the Netherlands from 1976, serving as the director of the European Ceramic Work Center in Den Bosch between 1999-2009, before retiring in 2009. He has authored hundreds of articles and several books on Dutch fine and decorative arts from the Middle Ages to the modern era. His scholarly interests expanded to Chinese material culture, culminating in the 2013 publication of Dragon & Horse: Saddle Rugs and Other Horse Tack from China and Beyond, a pioneering study on Chinese equestrian gear. Continuing this line of inquiry, his more recent book published in 2021, Small China: Early Chinese Miniatures, explores the largely overlooked world of Chinese miniature objects, combining archaeological research with art historical insight.
Condition: Good condition with ancient wear and casting irregularities. Sparse nicks, rubbing to gilding, nicks, minor signs of corrosion, and some areas with malachite encrustation.

Weight: 70.3 g
Dimensions: Height 4.1 cm

The homophone for monkey, ‘hou’, one of the twelve zodiac animals, is ‘nobleman’ or ‘high official’ as well as ‘descendants’. The monkey therefore represents the wish for the success of one’s descendants. The representation of a monkey and a peach relates to the legendary Sun Wukong, also known as the Monkey King, who stole the peaches of immortality. Therefore, the present lot bestows auspicious wishes for success and longevity for generations.

Literature comparison:
Compare an earlier gilt bronze ‘tortoise’ seal with an inscription ‘Taishou zhang’ (seal of governor), China, Han dynasty, dated 2nd century BC-2nd century AD, 3.9 cm high, in the Minneapolis Institute of Art, accession number 2000.34.2.

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价格信息

拍品估价:1,000 - 2,000 欧元 起拍价格:1,000 欧元  买家佣金: 35.00%

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Galerie Zacke
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