Fiftieth Anniversary Exhibition
4 November - 30 November, 2010
Twelve Masterpieces of Chinese Art, of Porcelain, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Stone, from the 10th century BC to the Yongzheng reign (1723-1735).
Gold kneeling figure
Han period, 206 BC - 220 AD
This figure represents a shaman (wu) or immortal (xian or yuren) with mask-like face and exaggerated features, wearing a cape and tunic composed of feathers. The figure is made, exceptionally, of cast and beaten gold worked with extraordinary delicacy. Other comparable examples are only found in bronze.
Height: 10.8cm