Spiegel met apen

anonymous, -0500 - -0200

Mirror showing five monkeys holding each other by the tail. Late Eastern Zhou period (481 - 222 BC), 5th - 4th century BC. Bronze. A ring of five monkeys is visible in the ornamental rim of this mirror, each grabbing hold of the other's tail. They are shown from above, with legs apart and tails curled. The monkeys are seen against a feather motif background. Spider monkey decoration was apopular motif and is typical of Southern China. Five monkeys is unusual; normally, four were shown.

  • Artwork typemirror
  • Object numberAK-MAK-30
  • Dimensionsdiameter 14.8 cm x height 1 cm

Identification

  • Title(s)

    Spiegel met apen

  • Object type

  • Object number

    AK-MAK-30

  • Description

    In het middenveld vijf apen die elkaar bij de staart grijpen. Het fond is gedecoreerd met komma-figuren en gebogen bundels dunne lijnen. Het patina is lichtgroen.

Creation

  • Creation

    anonymous, China

  • Dating

    -0500 - -0200

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  • School / Style

Material and technique

  • Dimensions

    diameter 14.8 cm x height 1 cm

Acquisition and rights

  • Credit line

    On loan from the Royal Asian Art Society in The Netherlands (purchase Edgar Gutmann, Paris, 1934)

  • Copyright

    Public domain

  • Provenance

    …; from Edgar Gutmann, Paris, frs. 2,000, to the Vereniging van Vrienden der Aziatische Kunst, 1934;{Note RMA.} from whom on loan to the museum, 1972

Documentation

  • Klaas Ruitenbeek, 'Aanwinst : Bronzen spiegel uit de Chu-cultuur', Aziatische Kunst 23/3 (1993), pp. 18-21.

Persistent URL

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