Katalognummer: CA0420-027 A GOLD ‘STAG-BIRD’ NOMAD CHIEF CAP CREST, NORTHWESTERN CHINA, LATE 3RD CENTURY BC On a rectangular plinth with ruyi-shaped edges (one lost). The mythical animal is composed of a reclining stag with a raptor beak, distinct spoon-shaped ears, scrolling antlers and tail, each terminating in smaller raptor heads, the body and head finely incised and punched with a floral pattern. Provenance: Giuseppe Tucci. Claude Sciaky-Menasché, Venice, acquired from the above, ca. 1980 (by repute). Dr. Koos de Jong, acquired from the above in 2005 (by repute). Giuseppe Tucci (1894-1984) was an Italian Orientalist, Indologist and scholar of East Asian studies, specialized in Tibetan culture and history of Buddhism. During his zenith, Tucci was a supporter of Italian Fascism, and he used idealized portrayals of Asian traditions to support Italian ideological campaigns. Tucci was fluent in several European languages, Sanskrit, Bengali, Pali, Prakrit, Chinese and Tibetan and he taught at the University of Rome La Sapienza until his death. He is considered one of the founders of the field of Buddhist Studies. Claude Sciaky-Menasché was an Italian art dealer and the author of “Storia ed estetica della Cina classica”, published by Supernova, Limena, Italy in 2010. Dr. Koos de Jong is a Dutch art historian and has been privately collecting Chinese art over decades. He has authored hundreds of articles and several books on Dutch fine and decorative arts spanning from the Middle Ages to the modern era. In 2013, he published an extensive study of Chinese riding gear in “Dragon & Horse, Saddle Rugs and Other Horse Tack from China and Beyond”. Between 1976 and 2009 he worked for numerous museums across the Netherlands and was the director of the European Ceramic Work Center in Den Bosch. Condition: Excellent condition, especially considering the age of this piece, with wear and casting flaws, losses, some minor dents and few small nicks, and a fine, naturally grown copper-red patina. Scientific laboratory analysis: Copies of three metallurgic analysis charts issued by Waarborg Holland in 2018 are accompanying this lot. Frans van Heemstra, the expert who ordered the test, comments: “We have had the gold tested by Waarborg Holland in Gouda. They have tested the upper part, the soldering and the base, which makes it very likely that the material comes from the indicated period. There is a very high gold and silver content and there are no traces of cadmium - which would have been present in a later specimen.” Expert comment: Asked for an opinion about this piece, Dr. Irene Good wrote in May 2007: “The object you showed is a cap crest from a Sarmatian or, more likely, Ukok region headdress. Very beautiful example – thank you for showing to me!” Dr. Irene L. Good, Ph. D., Research Associate at Harvard University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, is an archaeologist of Central and Western Asia. Since 2001, she is an Associate of the Peabody Museum. Dr. Good’s current research is focused on the later Bronze period of Western China. Weight: 43.9 g Dimensions: Height 6.5 cm The Ukok Plateau is located in today’s southwestern Siberia, in the Altai Mountains region of Russia at the borders with northwestern China. During the late 3rd century BC, this region was – among others - embattled between the Xiongnu and the ever expanding Han dynasty, with the latter eventually prevailing and, as a result of their campaign, installing the Protectorate of the Western Regions, an imperial administration imposed by Han China from the 2nd century BC to the 2nd century AD. The Xiongnu were a tribal confederation of all sorts of nomadic peoples who, according to ancient Chinese sources, inhabited the steppes of today’s northwestern China from the 3rd century BC to the late 1st century AD. The present type of personal ornament was favored by many of these nomadic people and cultures, who at some point in history submitted to Chinese dominance and were subsequen
Katalognummer: CA0420-027 A GOLD ‘STAG-BIRD’ NOMAD CHIEF CAP CREST, NORTHWESTERN CHINA, LATE 3RD CENTURY BC On a rectangular plinth with ruyi-shaped edges (one lost). The mythical animal is composed of a reclining stag with a raptor beak, distinct spoon-shaped ears, scrolling antlers and tail, each terminating in smaller raptor heads, the body and head finely incised and punched with a floral pattern. Provenance: Giuseppe Tucci. Claude Sciaky-Menasché, Venice, acquired from the above, ca. 1980 (by repute). Dr. Koos de Jong, acquired from the above in 2005 (by repute). Giuseppe Tucci (1894-1984) was an Italian Orientalist, Indologist and scholar of East Asian studies, specialized in Tibetan culture and history of Buddhism. During his zenith, Tucci was a supporter of Italian Fascism, and he used idealized portrayals of Asian traditions to support Italian ideological campaigns. Tucci was fluent in several European languages, Sanskrit, Bengali, Pali, Prakrit, Chinese and Tibetan and he taught at the University of Rome La Sapienza until his death. He is considered one of the founders of the field of Buddhist Studies. Claude Sciaky-Menasché was an Italian art dealer and the author of “Storia ed estetica della Cina classica”, published by Supernova, Limena, Italy in 2010. Dr. Koos de Jong is a Dutch art historian and has been privately collecting Chinese art over decades. He has authored hundreds of articles and several books on Dutch fine and decorative arts spanning from the Middle Ages to the modern era. In 2013, he published an extensive study of Chinese riding gear in “Dragon & Horse, Saddle Rugs and Other Horse Tack from China and Beyond”. Between 1976 and 2009 he worked for numerous museums across the Netherlands and was the director of the European Ceramic Work Center in Den Bosch. Condition: Excellent condition, especially considering the age of this piece, with wear and casting flaws, losses, some minor dents and few small nicks, and a fine, naturally grown copper-red patina. Scientific laboratory analysis: Copies of three metallurgic analysis charts issued by Waarborg Holland in 2018 are accompanying this lot. Frans van Heemstra, the expert who ordered the test, comments: “We have had the gold tested by Waarborg Holland in Gouda. They have tested the upper part, the soldering and the base, which makes it very likely that the material comes from the indicated period. There is a very high gold and silver content and there are no traces of cadmium - which would have been present in a later specimen.” Expert comment: Asked for an opinion about this piece, Dr. Irene Good wrote in May 2007: “The object you showed is a cap crest from a Sarmatian or, more likely, Ukok region headdress. Very beautiful example – thank you for showing to me!” Dr. Irene L. Good, Ph. D., Research Associate at Harvard University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, is an archaeologist of Central and Western Asia. Since 2001, she is an Associate of the Peabody Museum. Dr. Good’s current research is focused on the later Bronze period of Western China. Weight: 43.9 g Dimensions: Height 6.5 cm The Ukok Plateau is located in today’s southwestern Siberia, in the Altai Mountains region of Russia at the borders with northwestern China. During the late 3rd century BC, this region was – among others - embattled between the Xiongnu and the ever expanding Han dynasty, with the latter eventually prevailing and, as a result of their campaign, installing the Protectorate of the Western Regions, an imperial administration imposed by Han China from the 2nd century BC to the 2nd century AD. The Xiongnu were a tribal confederation of all sorts of nomadic peoples who, according to ancient Chinese sources, inhabited the steppes of today’s northwestern China from the 3rd century BC to the late 1st century AD. The present type of personal ornament was favored by many of these nomadic people and cultures, who at some point in history submitted to Chinese dominance and were subsequen
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