작품 상세

Western Han period 2nd -– 1st century BC. This gilt bronze phoenix is cast with finely engraved linear detailing. The head shows a powerful beak with open mouth. Eyes inlaid with jet and with fine lines along the curling eyebrows, either side of the head and the delicate pointed ears. There are feather-tufts sweeping back on each side behind the eyes. Arising from the head is a curved feather plume inlaid with agate, and topped with a smaller curved plume. The prominent body would have had a central stone on its chest (now missing). There is a pointed delineated triangular tuft of feathers in front extending down from the rounded chest. The two large wings with different feather patterns, sweep backwards. between these, arises the large tail cast as four plumes of diminishing size, arranged symmetrically each terminating in a curled end with a gilt boss. The tail rises between six shorter tail feathers curled down in matching groups of three on each side. The back shows a square shaped hollow section which suggests that this bronze may have been a decorative fitting. The powerful legs have large talons and the phoenix stands on a base which has swirled engraving and is inlaid with agate and turquoise stones. Much of the original gilding remains but there is heavy green patination and corrosion in places and on the underside of the base. Han gilt bronze depictions of phoenix are very rare, especially in free standing form. This elegant bronze is a magnificent depiction of everything the phoenix represents in Chinese art. Dimensions: Height 21.5cms, width 9cms, weight 795 grams. References: 1. See illustration in Kandai no Bijutsee col.pl.60. 2. Also, see Exhibition of Art of the Han 1979 Chinese Institute in America. New York catalogue no.49. 3. Comparison see Eternal China: Splendors from the First Dynasties. Dayton, 1998, p66-67, no.5 phoenix Qin Dynasty (221 - 206 BC). 4. Chinese, Korean and Japanese Sculpture: The Avery Bundage Collection, Asian Art Museum of San Franscisco, Tokyo, 1974, pp.60-61, no.16 where author cites another example from a Han Dynasty tomb in Ding county, Herbei province, published in Wenwu, 1964, No.12,pl.1-3. 5. See gilt bronze phoenix finial in exhibition catalogue Setagaya Museum of Art exhibition catalogue, Shin no Shik tei to sono jidaiten (Exhibition of the Archaeological Relics of the Emperor Qin Shihuang), Tokyo, 1994, no.115. 6. Ancient Chinese Bronzes by J.J.Lally and Co. 2011. pl.20

재료

Bronze