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Important Chinese Ancient Bronze Money Tree, 25BC-220AD

$100,000
$150,00033% Off
£75,877.70
£113,816.5533% Off
€86,759.36
€130,139.0533% Off
CA$139,672.88
CA$209,509.3333% Off
A$155,297.24
A$232,945.8733% Off
CHF 81,087.65
CHF 121,631.4833% Off
MX$1,890,345.60
MX$2,835,518.4033% Off
NOK 1,034,643.12
NOK 1,551,964.6833% Off
SEK 969,411.16
SEK 1,454,116.7433% Off
DKK 647,501.10
DKK 971,251.6533% Off
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About the Item

China, Ancient Bronze “Money Tree” Yaoqian Shu with original pottery base, Han dynasty (25 BCE – 220 CE) Dimensions: 155cm, 62 inches high A sculpted terracotta pottery base in the form of a tortoise with attendants and inserted with five individual bronze pole segments with twenty four individual hanging bronze open work money “branches” attached in tiers, four per tier and topped with a figure of a bronze phoenix as apex most bearing varying degrees of malachite and azurite encrustation from ancient burial. Important Description Details: Pottery "tortoise" base: 14.5" high and 11" wide Bronze sections: 7pcs pole bronze sections approximately 8" length each 1pc top "phoenix" bronze section approximately 7" high and 6" wide 20 pcs long bronze hanging wings approximately 10" long and 5" wide each 4 pcs short bronze hanging wings (near top) approximately 7" long and 4" wide each Total 32 pcs with ancient green and blue azurite patina. Catalog reference: Schneible Fine arts catalog - 35 Years Collecting Treasures- Number 11p. 28 (see photos) Provenance: Provenance: Private family collection formerly exhibited “Asia Week” New York City, Fuller Building, Zabriskie Gallery, 2008. History of money trees: In the late Han Dynasty tombs of western China, money was created as heavenly offerings to grow on trees insuring that the deceased’ needs would be met in afterlife. Large money trees are made of two sections: a sculptural pottery base and a bronze tree, whose molded, open work branches are intricately decorated with coin motifs, mythological animals such as deer who are associated with the magic elixir, images of Xiwangmu (Queen Mother of the Western Paradise and holder of secret immortality) and other Daoist symbols and immortals such as monkeys who try to steal the elixir. Because of the extraordinarily fine, open-work bronze designs, few money trees have survived totally in tact. Our research indicates that only a hundred or so exist in tact worldwide, primarily in institutional collections. Various complete money trees are known, but with few exceptions the elaborate bronze upper part, cast with numerous branches suspended with coins, is broken into numerous pieces. A complete one in good condition is illustrated by Rawson, Mysteries of Ancient China, p.177, No.87, which was excavated in Pengshan county, Sichuan province. Our gallery has been dealing in authentic ancient Chinese and Japanese antiquities and garden ornaments for 25 years. Our president personally travels to the far east each year to meet his network partners who assist him in finding best examples. He personally inspects each antique work of art to ensure its old age, authenticity and quality condition. Lifetime guarantee of authenticity: All of our Asian works of art come with our Lifetime Authenticity Guarantee.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 62 in (157.48 cm)Width: 26 in (66.04 cm)Depth: 26 in (66.04 cm)
  • Style:
    Han (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    25BC- 220AD
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    South Burlington, VT
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU128926649013

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