A BRONZE AXLE CAP AND LINCHPIN

MIDDLE WESTERN ZHOU DYNASTY, CIRCA 9TH CENTURY BC

Details

A BRONZE AXLE CAP AND LINCHPIN
MIDDLE WESTERN ZHOU DYNASTY, CIRCA 9TH CENTURY BC
The front of the tubular cap cast with four blades behind the stepped, domed end, the other end with two rectangular apertures for the insertion of the flat rectangular linchpin, that also has a rectangular aperture and is cast at the top with a large tiger mask with flat backing, with blackish patina and some milky-green encrustation
5 5/8 in. (14.3 cm.) long, box

Provenance

Acquired in Hong Kong, 1990.

Exhibited

The Glorious Traditions of Chinese Bronzes, Singapore, 2000, no. 32.
Metal, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth, Hong Kong Museum of Art, 2002-2006.

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Lot Essay

Similar blade-like decoration can be seen on several axle caps of similar date illustrated by O. Karlbeck, "Notes on Some Chinese Wheel Axle-Caps", BMFEA 39, Stockholm, 1967, pp. 53-74, pl. 1, no. A 3 and pl. 2, nos. A 4 and A 5, which has a linchpin with similar tiger mask. Another similar linchpin is illustrated pl. 16 C.

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