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- and jade objects of that shape continued to be popular as ritual objects into the Shang period. The cong shape has been described as a symbol for earth. This small version of the cong may have been part of a more elaborate necklace set.
41 Beads
blue glass, I. 1.6 cm
Western Han period, 2nd-1st centuries B.C.
ARM and JMH
Drum-shaped hollow beads of dark blue with a rela�tively large quantity of barium. Glass beads were a bit of a novelty in early China. Glass was usually imported from Syria. Its first production in China dates to the Western Han period or slightly earlier.
42 Lamp with inscription
bronze, d. 10.7 cm Western Han period, 28 B.C. ARM Circular bronze lamp on three legs with a pricket in centre of shallow tray. Flattened handle over one leg and broken armature cover on one side. The 19 char�acter cast inscription on the exterior side of tray dates the piece as being made in the first year of the Heping period of Emperor Chengdi of the Western Han dynasty, which is the year 28 B.C. For similar Western Han bronze tripod lamp see Wenwu, No. 11,1984, page 28, No. 24, 9.
43 Buddhist votive sculptures
bronze, gilt bronze
left to right, ht. 5.6 cm, 6.5 cm, 9.5 cm, 9.5 cm,
5.8 cm and 4.8 cm
Sui/Tang period, late 6th-9th centuries A.D.
JMH, ARM and FMN
a) Gilt-bronze standing figure of Guanyin against man- dorla on base with four short legs. Tang period.
b) Gilt-bronze Buddhist male figure with shaven head, standing in slightly swayed pose, body covered by long flowing garments. Left arm raised holding a scripture scroll; right arm at side with hand holding a pleated fold of garment. Missing base. Tang period.
c) Ungilded figure of Bodhisattva (?) against openwork mandorla on unusual base of two prongs. (Possibly a later copy.)
d) Crude ungilded bronze statue of Amitabha (?) with inscription on four-legged stand which lists statue as Guanyin and dates it to the 14th year of the Kaixing period of Sui Emperor Hai Huang�s reign or 594 A.D.
e) Gilt bronze figure of standing Guanyin against open circular mandorla with shafted base for insertion into a base. Tang period.
f) Gilt bronze figure of standing unidentified Bodhis�attva against open mandorla on bracketed stand. Hands of figure in anjali mudra or gesture of devo�tion. Tang period.
44 Shard of atlante figure
olive green-glazed stoneware, ht. 6 cm
Northern Qi dynasty, 550-575 ARM
This shard is of an atlante figure, which is associated
with Buddhist subjects and is usually found supporting
a platform which holds a Buddhist statue. This shard
was found by Rev. Menzies in debris below the Bud�dhist
caves of Xiang Tang Si in northern Henan province. The kneeling figure has a feline head and a human body with a pot-belly. It is similar to some of the Northern Qi stone carvings in the caves of Xiang Tang Si.
45 Plaques
gilt bronze, ht. 8.5 cm possibly Tang dynasty (618-907) ARM These two interesting gilt-bronze plaques with features and details executed in narrow incised lines seem to represent falconers depicted in silhouette. The large noses and strange hats suggest that they are foreigners. During the Tang dynasty, many foreigners came along the Silk Road to trade with China. Among excavated Tang tomb figurines are foreign falconers, which leads one to think these two plaques may also be from that date. The plaques may have been glued or inset into some object.
46 Container with lid
metalwork, silvered bronze, ht. 11.5 cm Tang dynasty, 618-907 JMH
This globular-shaped metalwork container, which is perhaps a Buddhist relinquary, has a large ancient repair on one side. The lid rises to a small bead with a knob. The bowl rests upon a small tiered splayed foot. Circular bands are evenly distributed over the whole object. It is reportedly from Luoyang in Henan province.
47 Kundika bottle
bronze, ht. 17.4 cm
Tang dynasty (618-907) or later FMN This long-necked bottle imitates the Indian ritual kun�dika vessel which was used in Buddhist worship. It is missing the upper flange which tapers to a spout at the top. At the shoulder is a spout with a hinged lid where the vessel would be filled. For a similar bronze kundika bottle which is dated to the Tang period, see Kaogu, No. 2, 1985, page 150. The Bodhisattva, Guanyin, is often depicted with such a vessel containing ambrosia (water of life).
48 Miniature bottle
glazed stoneware, ht. 11 cm
Northern Qi/Sui period, late 6th-early 7th centuries ARM
Elegant ovoid-shape bottle with narrow cylindrical neck decorated with three rings below flaring lip. The poor quality straw colour glaze, which has suffered flaking, stops well short of foot.
49 Cups
glazed stoneware, ht. 6-7 cm
Sui/early Tang period, late 6th-early 7th centuries
FMN and JMH
Cups with curved slightly flaring sides, everted rim and spreading foot with flat base, are covered with flaking straw colour glaze stopping just short of foot.
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