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167

Medievil Gilt Masquette

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Asian Antiques Start Price:3,000.00 USD Estimated At:4,500.00 - 6,000.00 USD
Medievil Gilt Masquette
Online Auction only, with advance bids accepted at iCollector and at the Gallery. No live bidding
in the Gallery, and tie bids go to the earliest bidder. All proceeds will go 100% to the World Peace Foundation Building Fund of Hadley, MA.
Likely face of a Spirit or Deity, the pacific image is prominently raised with simplified eyes, high nose and ovoid mouth. The ears are simply squarish flanges, which eliminates a Buddhist connection, and four punched holes allow for attachment to a support. Was a tribal Shamanic dream responsible for this image? 5-3/8' Tall by 3-7/16" wide at the ears, it is most likely from the Liao Dynasty or related....and surely was entombed in the Northeast due to its lack of a crusty, moisture-induced patina. Some of the gilding has been lost (viewers left side) and traces of bronze-green patina are present on the obverse, but the reverse shows toning but no heavy patina due to a coating of whitish metal (lead-silver in the central area? and lead-iron around the periphery?) and the fact that the sculpture is higher-purity copper than the earlier bronze artifacts of more central China. A significant image whose authenticity is enhanced by natural-appearing use-wear on the obverse highpoints accompanied by some tightly held natural corrosion on the right side of the masquettes front as it faces us.
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