A ‘DOUBLE CICADA’ BRONZE ORNAMENT, LATE SHANG DYNASTY, ANYANG PHASE


Expert’s note:
The style of the two cicadae on this bronze belt buckle dates it firmly within the Anyang phase of the Shang dynasty. Later, these insects were depicted more naturalistically, as becomes clear for example when looking at the Cicada ‘noses’ depicted on a fangzun bronze dating to the Western Zhou dynasty, see literature comparison below.

China, c. 1200 - 1046 BC. Of rectangular form, the finely cast sturdy plaque depicting two cicadae set in a row and surrounded by swirling C-scrolls, all in high relief and neatly incised. The two stylized insects have spade-shaped heads with naturalistic eyes set on top of a tapering body with wings extending along the side. The back has two loops for attachment.


Provenance:
P.C. Lu Works of Art Ltd, Hong Kong. From a private collection in the northeastern United States, acquired from the above. Started as a small business in January 1976 in Hong Kong, selling Chinese antiques, P.C. Lu was able to scale operations, eventually sending his son Fred to the MIT to pursue his PhD. Today, many objects from his fine collection are housed in the British Museum.

Condition:
Very good condition, commensurate with age. Wear, signs of weathering and erosion, small losses, and traces of soil likely from a prolonged period of burial. The bronze has a remarkable, naturally grown olive green and beige patina with distinct malachite encrustations.One tiny hairline to the lip.

Weight: 100.6 g
Dimensions: Length 10 cm


Literature comparison:

Compare a similarly styled bronze cicada ornament, 3.8 cm long, dated to the Shang dynasty, in the British Museum, registration number 1933,0413.8. Compare the cicada motif along the neck of a bronze gu, 31 cm high, dated to the Shang dynasty, at Bonhams New York, 19 March 2018, lot 8030. Compare a related cicada ‘nose’ decoration on the front of a fangzun, dated to the Western Zhou dynasty, at Sotheby’s New York, 18 March 2008, lot 71.




商代安陽時期青銅蟬紋飾物


中國，西元前約1200 - 1046 年。精美鑄造長方形飾物，兩隻首尾相連的蟬紋，兩隻大目，頭部和體軀分別作長三角形，腹部有條紋；周圍環繞浮雕雷紋。背面有兩個用於固定的環。


專家注釋：
此件青銅帶扣上的兩隻蟬的造型，無疑屬於商代安陽時期。 之後這些昆蟲的描繪更加自然，例如西周方尊青銅器上的蟬，參見下面的文獻比較。


來源：
香港P.C. Lu Works of Art Ltd藝術公司；美國東北部私人收藏購於上述公司。P.C. Lu 藝術公司於1976 年 1 月在香港成立，最初是一家銷售中國古董的小企業，後來擴大運營規模，最終將他的兒子Fred送到麻省理工學院攻讀博士學位。 如今，他的許多精美收藏品都收藏在大英博物館中。

品相：
狀況良好，有磨損、風化和侵蝕跡象、小缺損，以及可能來自長期埋藏的土壤痕跡。表面有自然包漿和銅鏽，並帶有獨特的藍綠色和米色結殼。

重量：100.6 克
尺寸：長 10 釐米


文獻比較：

比較一件相似的商代蟬紋飾物，長3.8 釐米，收藏於大英博物館，館藏編號1933,0413.8。比較商代安陽時期青銅觚，高31 釐米，見紐約邦瀚斯，2018年3月19日，lot 8030。比較一件相近的西周蟬紋方尊，見紐約蘇富比，2008年3月18日，lot 71。