A Pair of Bronze Taotie‑Mask Beast‑Ornamented Door Knockers,Han Dynasty

拍品描述

Dimensions:Height 34cm (13‑3/8in),Width 20cm (7‑7/8in),Total Weight 3056gCondition & Provenance:Alright,this authentic pair of Han‑dynasty bronze taotie‑mask beast‑ornamented door knockers retains substantial original burial patina and multi‑layered mineral encrustation throughout the surface.No major breaks or restorations are observed; minor corrosion and surface wear are consistent with ancient underground burial conditions.This pair originates from a private bronze collection in California,USA,the prior collector obtained it from a reputable Asian antiquities dealer in the mid‑1990s,it has remained within one single‑family estate and is offered at public auction for the first time.Description:A matched pair of imposing bronze door knockers,each cast with a prominent central taotie mask flanked by dynamically coiled mythical beast figures in high relief.Finely incised texturing details the facial features,manes and musculature of the creatures.A freely swinging double‑scroll pull‑ring is articulated through the central lug mount.The reverse sides are plain flat cast backs intended for mounting onto wooden doors.These monumental knockers embody the formidable ritual decorative aesthetic of Han‑dynasty elite architecture,blending apotropaic symbolic function with sophisticated bronze casting craftsmanship

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