Set of belt ornaments (incomplete?)

The six ornaments include four rectangular plaques, one buckle with an attached rectangular plaque, and a larger, hinged ornament with a more complex curving shape. All the ornaments are multipart constructions with gilt surfaces and copper or copper alloy substrates. Each rectangular plaque bears a motif of a single animal with surrounding abstract floral forms. Also, each plaque is similar in construction and consists of three basic parts held together by small pins (or rivets); the parts are a plain raised border, the central plate bearing repousse decoration, and a flat, plain, gilt back plate. The buckle and large ornament have the basic construction, though they are somewhat more complicated and have additional parts.

It was of particular interest to find evidence of textile on one ornament between the back plate and the underside of the repousse panel. LRN 3337

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Historical period(s)
Sui or Tang dynasty, 6th-7th century
Medium
Gilded copper and bronze
Dimensions
H x W x D (S1997.41.1): 15.5 Ă— 3 Ă— 0.5 cm (6 1/8 Ă— 1 3/16 Ă— 3/16 in) H x W x D (S1997.41.2,3,4): 4.5 Ă— 3 Ă— 0.5 cm (1 3/4 Ă— 1 3/16 Ă— 3/16 in) H x W x D (S1997.41.5): 13 Ă— 6 Ă— 0.5 cm (5 1/8 Ă— 2 3/8 Ă— 3/16 in) H x W x D (S1997.41.6): 6.3 Ă— 2.5 Ă— 0.5 cm (2 1/2 Ă— 1 Ă— 3/16 in)
Geography
China
Credit Line
Purchase — Smithsonian Unrestricted Trust Funds
Collection
Arthur M. Sackler Collection
Accession Number
S1997.41.1-6
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Jewelry and Ornament, Metalwork
Type

Belt ornament

Keywords
China, flower, Sui dynasty (581 - 618), Tang dynasty (618 - 907)
Provenance

To 1980
Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Bernat, Massachusetts. [1]

1980
Sale, New York, Sotheby’s, Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, The Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Bernat, November 7, 1980, lot 5. [2]

Until 1990's (?)
British Rail Pension Fund, Works of Art Collection, London [3]

1997
Sale, New York, Sotheby’s, Fine Chinese Ceramics, Furniture and Works of Art, September 23, 1997, Sale #7018, lot 120: “Rare six-piece set of gilt copper belt ornaments.” [4]

From 1997
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, purchased at Sale, Sotheby’s, New York, Fine Chinese Ceramics, Furniture and Works of Art, September 23, 1997, through Andrew Kahane, Ltd., New York, New York. [5]

Notes:

[1] See object file, Collections Management Office.

[2] The object was sold in 1980 at Sotheby’s, New York auction to an unknown buyer. See Memorandum dated Sept. 22, 1997, copy in object file, Collections Management Office.

[3] See Sotheby's, London, Important Early Chinese Cermics, Archaic Bronzes, Sculpture, Silver and Lacquer from the Works of Art Collection of the British Rail Pension Fund, December 12, 1989, Lot 33 [DNS]

[4] See object file, Collections Management Office.

[5] See note 3. See also Memorandum dated Sept. 22, 1997, copy in object file, Collections Management Office.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Andrew Kahane, Ltd. Oriental Art
Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Bernat
Sotheby's (New York)
British Rail Pension Fund, Works of Art Collection active 1974-1999

Description

The six ornaments include four rectangular plaques, one buckle with an attached rectangular plaque, and a larger, hinged ornament with a more complex curving shape. All the ornaments are multipart constructions with gilt surfaces and copper or copper alloy substrates. Each rectangular plaque bears a motif of a single animal with surrounding abstract floral forms. Also, each plaque is similar in construction and consists of three basic parts held together by small pins (or rivets); the parts are a plain raised border, the central plate bearing repousse decoration, and a flat, plain, gilt back plate. The buckle and large ornament have the basic construction, though they are somewhat more complicated and have additional parts.

It was of particular interest to find evidence of textile on one ornament between the back plate and the underside of the repousse panel. LRN 3337

Published References
  • Sale of Eugene Bernat Collection. New York, November 7, 1980. lot 5.
  • Sam Bernstein. Ritual and Belief: Chinese Jade and Related Arts. San Francisco. cat. 28.
  • Important Early Chinese Ceramics, Archaic Bronzes, Sculpture, Silver and Lacquer from the Works of Art Collection of the British Rail Pension Fund, 12 December 1989. London, December 12, 1989. lot 33.
  • Fine Chinese Bronzes, Ceramics and Works of Art. London, June 8, 1993. lot 127.
  • Fine Chinese Ceramics, Furniture, and Works of Art. New York, September 23, 1997. lot 120, pp. 50-51.
  • Henry Trubner. The Arts of the T'ang Dynasty. Exh. cat. Los Angeles. cat. 361, p. 127.
Collection Area(s)
Chinese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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