Chinese Pair of Han Gilt Bronze Bears

Chinese Pair of Han Gilt Bronze Bears, ca. 2nd Century AD. These two gilt bronze Chinese bears are rare and cherished Han types, together for two millennia now. They sit upright with a woolly mane framing their face with perked round ears. Their snouts point downward over their round full bellies. Such pieces were likely furniture or chest fittings. The surface has most of its original gilt intact with elements of its green and reddish patina coming through the gilt and earthen encrustations.

Provenance: purchased from Nagatani, Inc., Chicago, in the early 1960’s. Nagatani was a well-known Chicago dealer of Asian Art in the 1960’s, who had worked with the Yamanka Company before coming to Chicago. This is a superb provenance with its original Nagatani write up. H. 1 7/8” (4.8 cm)..