chariot ornaments

These two tank parts from the Western Zhou period fulfill a specific function in the structure of the vehicle: they were used to protect the part of the axle located between the tank body and the wheel hub.

Their decoration, formed by the bas-relief profile of a buffalo with a head with protruding horns and a curved front leg, is extremely rare.

It can nevertheless be compared to those of objects discovered on the site of Zhuwajie (Pengzhou, Sichuan), in 1959 and 1980.

The caches located on this site indeed contained large-format vases whose decoration repeatedly incorporates this buffalo motif, a characteristic element which has enabled archaeologists to attribute these creations to the same workshop, active between Sichuan and Hubei around 1000 BCE.

Cartel:

chariot ornaments
Western Zhou Dynasty (c. 1050 – 771 BC)
Bronze
H.10,96 cm x W.12,1 cm x D.7,08 cm (left ornament),
H.11,24 cm x W.11,6 cm x D.7,17 cm (right ornament)

CM 2016-39
Former David David-Weill Collection

Acquisition of the Cernuschi Museum with the support of the Society of Friends of the Cernuschi Museum, 2015

 

Photo credit :

© Paris Museums / Cernuschi Museum

“Tank Elements”. Bronze. Western Zhou dynasty 9-8th century BC). Paris, Muse Cernuschi.

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