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A FINELY CAST, IMPORTANT AND VERY RARE BRONZE 'TAOTIE' HELMET, EASTERN ZHOU DYNASTY
奥地利
2025年10月16日 开拍
拍品描述
China, circa 770-221 BC. Of typical form, the helmet with a central peak above the brow ridge and decorated to the center with a meticulously incised taotie mask cast in low relief, the sides further adorned with a pair of stylized birds reserved within a trapezoidal panel against geometric ground, above two lugs on either side.Provenance: Collection of Kate Kemper, Switzerland, 1950s-1960s. Collection R.W.B., Haiku, Hawaii, 1980s-2013. Collection of L. Kalina FA. A private collection in London, 2013. Ariadne Galleries, New York and London. A distinguished American private collection, acquired from the above on 9 November 2017. A copy of a certificate from Ariadne Galleries, confirming the provenance above, accompanies this lot. Kate Kemper (1908-2004) was a notable collector who formed an important collection of ceramics and textiles of Andean art after visiting Peru. Her comprehensive collection was assembled in Europe and exhibited in various museums including Ancient Peruvian Art, at the Arts Council, London in 1962, and Alt Peru in 1972 at the Landesmuseum, Muenster. Founded in 1972, Ariadne Galleries has established a reputation as one of the world's leading dealers in the field of ancient art. With a prominent gallery in New York's upper East side for many years, in 2014 Ariadne opened its second gallery in London's historic art district, Mayfair. With nearly fifty years in the industry, Ariadne boasts of several important private collectors and foundations among its clients, as well as some of the world's most celebrated museums, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Harvard University Art Museums, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford.Condition: Very good condition with age-appropriate wear. Casting irregularities, areas of corrosion, and extensive soil encrustations are present, along with small losses. Traces of ancient silk and possibly leather remain inside, suggesting the piece was once wrapped. The bronze has developed a naturally grown patina with vibrant malachite and azurite encrustations.Weight: 1,621 g Dimensions: Height 21.5 cmThe earliest bronze helmets in China date back to the Shang dynasty and covered the neck and ears and were often decorated with taotie masks and animal faces to make the warrior appear fearsome. For two examples found in Anyang, see Cheng Dong and Zhong Shao-yi, Ancient Chinese Weapons—A Collection of Pictures, Beijing, 1990, p. 40. A related bronze helmet dated to the Eastern Zhou dynasty is illustrated ibid., pl. 12, no. 4-157. See also a late Shang-dynasty bronze helmet with taotie design, excavated in 1989 from Dayangzhou (the second richest burial site known after the Fu Hao's tomb) and now in the Jiangxi Provincial Museum.Expert's note: The helmet is in fine condition, with a dark green patina and rich low-relief decoration. A striking taotie motif adorns the front, while the sides feature composite representations of birds, all framed by uniformly incised meanders. Two small holes on either side of the brim once held cords to secure the helmet to the wearer's head. As with other ancient helmets, its design likely reflects both military tradition and battlefield tactics. The principal weapons of the period—the ge (dagger-axe) and the crossbow—were widely used during the Eastern Zhou dynasty, particularly in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-475 BC) and, to a lesser extent, during the Warring States Period (474-221 BC). In close combat, emphasis was placed on frontal visibility and protection from overhead blows, a function clearly reflected in the form of this helmet. Dagger-axes, ranging from 2.75 to 5.5 meters in length, served as medium-range weapons. As a result, shields were largely absent from Chinese warfare during this era, with warriors relying instead on sturdy armor, typically of leather or bronze. Tellingly, the renowned Terracotta Army of the Qin dynasty (221-206 BC), numbering over 8,000 figures, does not include a single warrior bearing a shield.Literature comparison: Compare a related bronze helmet, dated later Western Zhou to Spring and Autumn period, Upper Xiaiadian culture, dated 877-476 BC, in the National Palace Museum, Taipei.Auction result comparison: Type: RelatedAuction: Sotheby's Hong Kong, 19 January 2023, lot 3053Price: HKD 252,000 or approx. EUR 28,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing: An archaic bronze helmet, Eastern Zhou dynasty, Warring States periodExpert remark: Compare the related form and manner of casting with similar patina. Note the size (22 cm) and that this helmet lacks any kind of decoration.

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拍品估价:7,500 - 15,000 欧元 起拍价格:7,500 欧元  买家佣金:

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