AN INSCRIBED HALF OF A BRONZE TIGER TALLY, EASTERN HAN DYNASTY


Expert’s note:
According to Ch'i-kuo k'ao, pp. 366-67 (Chapter 12, ‘The Penal Law of Wei’), “He who steals a tiger tally will be executed and his house and property confiscated.” The fact that only one half remains of this tiger tally, however, indicates that someone indeed once risked their life to snag this highly important object which could decide the fates of entire wars, possibly to disrupt the enemy’s chain of command.

China, 25-220 AD. Cast in the form of a recumbent tiger with the mouth open, inscribed along the curvature of its neck and down its back, a single aperture for suspension in its twisting tail. The dynamic posture of the tiger, as if it were ready to pounce on its enemy, shows swirling indentations from casting, symbolizing its muscular legs.


Inscription:
To the tiger’s neck and back, ‘Si Gong […]’, likely referring to a government office.


Provenance:
A private collection in Vienna, Austria. Galerie Zacke, Vienna, before 1998. Collection of Maria and Johannes Nickl, acquired from the above and thence by descent in the same family. A copy of the original invoice from Galerie Zacke, addressed to the Nickls, dating the present lot to the Warring States period, and stating a purchase price for the present lot of ATS 14,500 (or approx.
EUR 1,900
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing), accompanies this lot. Maria (1926-2022) and Johannes Nickl (d. 2020) lived in Vienna, Austria, and were ardent collectors of Asian, Buddhist, and Egyptian works of art. They were highly active in Vienna’s tightknit Asian art trade and assembled most of their collection during the 1980s and 1990s, frequently buying from Galerie Zacke and later Galerie Asboth. The couple were also noted museum patrons and their names are still found on the Ehrentafel (‘Roll of Honor’) of the Egyptian and Near Eastern Collection at the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien (Museum of Fine Arts Vienna) today.

Condition:
Good condition. As expected, typical wear and weathering commensurate with age, encrustations, nicks, scratches, minor casting flaws. Fine, dark, smooth, and naturally grown patina with malachite encrustations.

Weight: 126 g
Dimensions: Length 9.4 cm


The tally played a significant role
in ancient warfare. The Historical Records by Sima Qian document a story that the state of Qin besieged Handan, the capital of the state of Zhao, in 257 BC, and Zhao requested aid from the neighboring state of Wei. The King of Wei asked the senior general Jin Bi to lead 100,000 soldiers to save Zhao. However, Jin was afraid of Qin's power and halted the offensive. Lord Xinling, son of the King of Wei, was determined to save Zhao and requested that Lady Ru, the king's concubine, steal the tiger-shaped tally from the king's bedroom. She succeeded. Seeing the tally, the soldiers obeyed orders and finally rescued Zhao.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 22 March 2022, lot 49
Price: USD 50,400 or approx.
EUR 49,500
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: An inscribed section of a bronze tiger tally (Hufu), Eastern Han dynasty
Expert remark: This lot also comprises a tiger tally half. Note the size (7 cm).




東漢半片銅虎符


中國，25-220 年。呈臥虎式，虎頭平視，虎口大張，尾上翹，做工精細，造型優美。虎背部有篆書銘文。


專家注釋：
根據齊國考，頁366-67（《衛國刑法》第12章），“盜虎符者，處死，沒收房屋財產。” 然而，這隻老虎的數量只剩下一半，這表明確實有人曾經冒著生命危險去搶奪這件可以決定整個戰爭命運的重要物品，甚至可能擾亂敵人的指揮系統。


銘文:
虎符頸部至背部可見“司宮”字樣。


來源：
奧地利維也納私人收藏； 維也納 Zacke藝廊，1998年之前；Maria 與Johannes Nickl收藏，購於上述藝廊，在同一家族保存至今。隨附一份由 Zacke藝廊出局的原始賬單複印件，收件人為Nickls ，當時價格為 ATS 14,500 （根據通貨膨脹約為
EUR 1,900
），斷代為戰國時期。Maria (1926-2022) 與 Johannes Nickl (d.2020年) 住在奧地利維也納，是亞洲、佛教和埃及藝術品的熱心收藏家。他們在維也納的亞洲藝術貿易中非常活躍，並在 1980 年代和 90 年代收集了大部分藏品，經常從 Zacke 藝廊和後來的 Asboth藝廊購買。 這對夫婦也是著名的博物館贊助人，他們的名字至今仍出現在維也納藝術史博物館（維也納美術博物館）埃及和近東藏品的 榮譽榜上。

品相：
品相良好，有磨損、風化、結殼、刻痕、劃痕和輕微的鑄造缺陷。包漿細膩，帶有藍綠色結殼。

重量：126 克
尺寸：長 9.4 厘米


符牌在古代戰爭中發揮了重要作用
。司馬遷《史記》記載了公元前257年秦國圍攻趙國首都邯鄲，趙國向鄰國魏國求援的故事。魏王命大將率兵十萬救趙。魏王之子信陵君一心救趙，請求魏王妃茹姬將虎符偷走，最終成功救趙。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：非常相近
拍賣：紐約蘇富比，2022年3月22日，lot 49
價格：USD 50,400（相當於今日
EUR 49,500
）
描述：東漢銅虎符左半
專家評論：此虎符只有一半。請注意尺寸(7厘米)。