? A SET OF TEN JADE AND GILT-BRONZE BELT PLAQUES, LIAO DYNASTY China, c. 10th-12th century. Each jade belt plaque is carved in high relief with a human or a mythical beast, including bixie, tigers and phoenix, and set within a bronze fitting. Each jade plaque and bronze fitting is pierced with four small openings. The smoothly polished jades are of a greyish-white tone. The gilt bronze fittings are covered in a fine, naturally grown patina with malachite and cuprite encrustations.
Provenance: From the collection of Max Lowenson, thence by descent to Dr. Ben Essex. Born in Latvia, Max Lowenson (1879-1945) immigrated to Cardiff, Wales, in the early 20th century, where he became a successful businessman. His prosperity allowed him to travel extensively across Asia, sparking a deep fascination with Chinese history and leading to the formation of an impressive collection of Chinese art, spanning from the Warring States period to the Tang dynasty. Lowenson's legacy continues through his grandson, Dr. Ben Essex, and his wife, Nina Essex, who inherited and expanded the collection. Today, pieces from Dr. Essex's collection are housed in the National Museum of Wales.
Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age. Wear, traces of use, small losses, minor nicks here and there, signs of weathering and erosion, encrustations.
Weight: 878 g (total)
Dimensions: 4 x 5.4 cm each
Khotan in the Tarim basin had rich jade stores during the Tang dynasty. The jade was fashioned into ornaments such as women’s comb tops and decorative plaques for belts worn by senior officials. The use of such plaques had its origin in the Tang dynasty, when the emperor presented jade-decorated belts to the nobility and senior members of the government as part of their official costume. The jade plaques in this set are carved in high relief with images of animals and mythical beasts.
Literature comparison:
Compare a related set of ten decorative belt plaques, dated to the Tang dynasty, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 1992.165.22a–j. Compare a related group of three gilt-bronze mounted jade belt fittings, two with similar slits as found on the present lot, dated to the Liao dynasty, in the Museum of East Asian Art, Bath, record number BATEA : 451. Compare a related celadon jade plaque carved with a crane, dated to the Western Liao dynasty (of the Qara Khitai based in Central Asia who were originally refugees from the Liao dynasty), circa 12th-13th century, in the British Museum, registration number 1880.3611.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 1 June 2023, lot 319
Estimate: HKD 600,000 or approx. EUR 69,000 converted at the time of writing
Description: A set of eleven white jade ‘musicians and dancers’ belt plaques, Tang dynasty
Expert remark: Compare the related forms and manner of carving with similar high relief. Note that the lot comprises eleven white jade belt plaques (the largest 5.2 cm long), dated to the Tang dynasty.
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