An archaic bronze figure of an ox, Western Han dynasty | 西漢 青銅牛

Mandala Fine Arts, Hong Kong.

Mandala Fine Arts，香港

Freestanding bronze figures of oxen are known from Western Han tombs in Yunnan province; compare, for example, a bronze ox excavated at Shizhaishan, Jinning county, and illustrated in Zhongguo qingtongqi quanji [Complete collection of Chinese bronzes] vol. 14, Beijing, 1993, pl. 162, together with heads of oxen with similar crescent-shaped horns but supporting additional creatures, also from the Shihzhaishan site, pls 163 and 164. Another rare bronze ox was sold in our London rooms, 20th June 2001, lot 4, and another more recently in these rooms, 2nd July 2021, lot 5022.