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Subject:Ming Bornze Bird
Posted By: Jonathan Gu Wed, Oct 03, 2007 IP: 24.44.57.57

Hi, everyone, I bought this bronze bird from an antique dealer.I was told it was from Ming Dynasty. It is very unique and has good patina. I just woundering if anyone has seen this kind of bird and how old it could be. Will it be from Ming or earlier. Thanks.







Subject:Re: Ming Bornze Bird
Posted By: pierrevdw Thu, Oct 04, 2007

Hi Jonathan,

Looks as it could be an Owl, symbolic bird in China.
To see if it is old, I need some close-up pictures but the style of the bird looks a little bit strange for a Ming.

Best regards,
Pierre.

Subject:Re: Ming Bornze Bird
Posted By: mikeoz Fri, Oct 05, 2007

Pierre,

I don't know if you agree, but the style and aesthetic of this piece remind me of the 12 bronze zodiac animals from Yuan Ming Yuan, which were probably influenced by the Jesuits during the Qing dynasty. This is the garden that our European ancestors destroyed out of spite to show their intellectual and political superiority over the Chinese.

Subject:Re: Re: Ming Bornze Bird
Posted By: pierrevdw Fri, Oct 05, 2007

Yes Mike, that's right.
By the way, the Macao/Hong Kong mogul Stanley Ho just bought the horse head from the water clock last week, for a bundle. (US$ 8 million if i remember well!)

Subject:Re: Re: Ming Bornze Bird
Posted By: mikeoz Sun, Oct 07, 2007

Let us then hope that he has the decency and honour to return it to it's rightful place in Beijing.

Slowly the twelve animals are being brought together again.

It might be good for the world's karma for them to be reunited.

I must check to see how many are already there.

Subject:Re: Re: Re: Ming Bornze Bird
Posted By: pierrevdw Wed, Oct 10, 2007

According to him (Stanley Ho), he will give it back to the Chinese government. But when, that was not specified.
In the meanwhile it will exposed in his Macao unfamous Casino.

Subject:Re: Ming Bornze Bird
Posted By: wingchuntaiji Tue, Oct 09, 2007

The bronze owl does not look like a chicken, therefore it does not belong to the Chinese Zodiac! It also was made for some practical function because of its large compartment and the lid.

The patina seems to be naturally aged. It looks like a Ming to early Qing piece!

Subject:Re: Ming Bornze Bird
Posted By: mikeoz Tue, Oct 09, 2007

Dear wingchuntaiji,

Please don't think I was suggesting that this bird was part of the Yuan Ming Yuan zodiac collection. Obviously that is not correct.

Rather I was suggesting that it has a similar aesthetic to those pieces of bronze statuary, which might indicate a similar chronology.

I'm not sure if the chicken head has yet been found. I just hope that eventually all twelve are reunited in Beijing.


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