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Roundel: Bear
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Horse harness ornament in the shape of a roundel with the depiction of a bear with protruding tongue; the paws are arranged below the frontal head and the animal's muzzle forms the roundel's center. The rounded ears are typical for representations of bears of the Western Han period. The mercury gilding suggests manufacture in China rather than among the tribes to the north, where the bear motif originated. The roundel is framed by a hatched border. It is hollow below and attached to a square, cage-like structure, likley for a harness strap crossing.
Green patina over a brown corrosion layer; significant traces of mercury gilding on the relief.
Department of Ancient and Byzantine Art & Numismatics
William D. Vogel (H’30) Milwaukee WI (by 1930-1980) inherited; by Virginia Booth Vogel Milwaukee WI (1980-1998) by descent; to Frederick Vogel III Milwaukee WI (1998-2016) gift; to The Harvard Art Museums.
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum Gift of Frederick Vogel III in memory of his father William D. Vogel H’30
Title: Roundel: Bear
Description:
Horse harness ornament in the shape of a roundel with the depiction of a bear with protruding tongue; the paws are arranged below the frontal head and the animal's muzzle forms the roundel's center.
The rounded ears are typical for representations of bears of the Western Han period.
The mercury gilding suggests manufacture in China rather than among the tribes to the north, where the bear motif originated.
The roundel is framed by a hatched border.
It is hollow below and attached to a square, cage-like structure, likley for a harness strap crossing.
Green patina over a brown corrosion layer; significant traces of mercury gilding on the relief.
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