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AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE JADE SACRIFICIAL VESSEL IN THE FORM OF A MYTHICAL CREATURE WITH TAOTIE IMAGERY,
奥地利
03月12日 晚上6点 开拍
拍品描述
POSSIBLY SHANG TO WESTERN ZHOU DYNASTYChina, c. late 2nd to early 1st millennium BC or later. Boldly carved in the form of an anthropomorphic kneeling creature, distinguished by a powerful beast-like head with a fierce expression, defined by a pair of bulging eyes, a prominent snout, and a gaping mouth revealing its tongue and sharp fangs. The arms of the figure raised above the shoulders to support a vessel with deep sides and a slightly everted rim. The exterior embellished with a subtle scrolling pattern and abstract animal masks carved in high relief against the rough texture of the ensemble. The semi-translucent stone, originally of soft celadon tone, overall deeply corroded from long-time burial.Provenance: The Collection of Sam and Myrna Myers, Paris, France. According to Sam Myers acquired between circa 1980 and 2000 and in the collection for at least 25 years, probably longer.Condition: Fair condition, commensurate with age, with ancient wear and inherent natural imperfections. Distinct traces of weathering and burial corrosion. Small perforations and evidence of breakage to the vessel, with associated signs of restoration visible under UV light examination. Scattered small nicks and few minor chips, mostly along the rim. The stone surface with pronounced areas of soil encrustation and signs of natural alteration.Weight: 839.9 gDimensions: Height 17.3 cmTaotie is the term employed by modern scholars to designate an ancient Chinese mythological creature frequently depicted on bronze and jade artifacts from the late 2nd millennium BC. Taotie masks became a central element of Shang ritual art and were particularly prominent in the decorative schemes of Western Zhou bronze vessels known as 'dings', three- to four-legged cauldrons used in food rituals [Fig. 1], as well as other types of ritual wine vessels [Fig. 2]. Over time, the motif also gained independent status as a distinctive formal and decorative feature of the period [Fig. 3-4].Although its precise meaning and origins remain uncertain and its function has been variously interpreted, this characteristic animal face was closely associated with religious and ceremonial contexts, as the objects on which it appears are almost invariably linked to such events or functions. Its totemic presence is thought to constitute a symbolic representation of the forces of nature. Typical features of the mask include large, prominent eyes; stylized eyebrows, horns, nose crest, and ears; a curled upper lip bearing exposed fangs with no lower jaw; and, in some cases, two lateral legs [Fig. 5].Expert's note: Both the cultural attribution and dating must remain hypothetical, as no directly comparable examples are known. The surface of the present figure, subtly carved in high relief with a repeated pattern of distinctive taotie masks, aligns it with hardstone artifacts produced during the Shang dynasty and early Western Zhou period. Moreover, the state of preservation, with extensive areas of burial corrosion and color alteration indicative of millennia of interment, suggests considerable age. Nonetheless, in the absence of direct comparanda, a precise chronological or geographical attribution cannot currently be established.

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拍品估价:5,000 - 10,000 欧元 起拍价格:2,600 欧元  买家佣金:

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