base with iridescent light green glaze and 2 animals, one standing on the back of the other; long post topped with openwork bird finial; 4 long branches at top: 3 depict figures dancing and holding objects and a figure under a canopy on top of branch and figures and radiating coins below branch; one depicts same scene except an animal replaces the figure under canopy; 20 rectangular branches, 19 with figures, horses, deer and figure under canopy with coins sprouting from branches; one with same scene except animal and figure(?) replace figure under canopy; 40 small branches with 3 radiating coins; pendant of monkey with a coin
base in the form of a man, kneeling, with PR arm raised; curved apron; curling hair, bushy brows over bulging eyes, large nose, moustache and small beard; wearing robe decorated with raised medallions, apron, chain mail issuing from animal masks on shoulders, boots; foliate drip pan with baluster-shaped socket cast with coiled dragon balanced on man's head; seperate candleholder of flaring cylindrical form, raised on long stem, with two horned, four clawed dragon in very high relief, chasing a flaming pearl amid clouds; blackish patina
seated elderly man with a long pointed beard and elongated earlobes, with eyes nearly closed; hands in lap; feet flat on floor; man wears a gold robe with long black tie beneath his bears, a cap with flap on the back, red slipper shoes and white socks
seated man wearing a green robe with yellow trim, white belt, and turquoise colored necklace, with a cap of curving design tied under his chin; man has his PL hand on his knee and his PR hand held palm out with his thumb touching his second finger; man seated on a raised green and yellow platform; lower portion of platform is separate ceramic piece
ten standing figures, each holding a fan (?) except two figures at top- one holds a scroll, other holds staff; green and blue ground; gold frame; glazed with plexiglass
Very long table with apron on all four sides with carved clouds and geometric designs; two support legs near short ends with openwork dragons inside geometric framework; short ends of table raised and curved
large square green and grey jade seal with cross-shaped faceted handle; handle has hole through top for hanging/storage and character carved into top
Group of elaborately dressed men with flowing draperies clustered around a man with a large red flag at bottom; procession of simply dressed men carrying fishing poles and scrolls (?) with six small boys at top; copper roller
arched-shaped stone element; relief carvings of seated figure flanked by two pairs of standing figures; two flying figures at top; incised text below figures
figure seated with legs crossed, one hand raised and one hand resting on a rail; dressed in flowing robes, crown on head; incised line details overall; rail curving around figure at front, supported behind at sides and in center front of figure; sculpture sits on a fitted black wood base
more thumbnails / fewer
bigger / smaller
grow! / shrink! / stop!

showing 13 results matching * and room:"G201" (clear filters)

advanced
info
base with iridescent light green glaze and 2 animals, one standing on the back of the other; long post topped with openwork bird finial; 4 long branches at top: 3 depict figures dancing and holding objects and a figure under a canopy on top of branch and figures and radiating coins below branch; one depicts same scene except an animal replaces the figure under canopy; 20 rectangular branches, 19 with figures, horses, deer and figure under canopy with coins sprouting from branches; one with same scene except animal and figure(?) replace figure under canopy; 40 small branches with 3 radiating coins; pendant of monkey with a coin
base in the form of a man, kneeling, with PR arm raised; curved apron; curling hair, bushy brows over bulging eyes, large nose, moustache and small beard; wearing robe decorated with raised medallions, apron, chain mail issuing from animal masks on shoulders, boots; foliate drip pan with baluster-shaped socket cast with coiled dragon balanced on man's head; seperate candleholder of flaring cylindrical form, raised on long stem, with two horned, four clawed dragon in very high relief, chasing a flaming pearl amid clouds; blackish patina
seated elderly man with a long pointed beard and elongated earlobes, with eyes nearly closed; hands in lap; feet flat on floor; man wears a gold robe with long black tie beneath his bears, a cap with flap on the back, red slipper shoes and white socks
seated man wearing a green robe with yellow trim, white belt, and turquoise colored necklace, with a cap of curving design tied under his chin; man has his PL hand on his knee and his PR hand held palm out with his thumb touching his second finger; man seated on a raised green and yellow platform; lower portion of platform is separate ceramic piece
ten standing figures, each holding a fan (?) except two figures at top- one holds a scroll, other holds staff; green and blue ground; gold frame; glazed with plexiglass

bigger / smaller
grow! / shrink! / stop!

showing 13 results matching * and room:"G201"

Download results as CSV

base with iridescent light green glaze and 2 animals, one standing on the back of the other; long post topped with openwork bird finial; 4 long branches at top: 3 depict figures dancing and holding objects and a figure under a canopy on top of branch and figures and radiating coins below branch; one depicts same scene except an animal replaces the figure under canopy; 20 rectangular branches, 19 with figures, horses, deer and figure under canopy with coins sprouting from branches; one with same scene except animal and figure(?) replace figure under canopy; 40 small branches with 3 radiating coins; pendant of monkey with a coin

Money Tree, 1st-2nd century

Unknown artist, Chinaexpand_more

Bronze and green glazed earthenwareexpand_more

Gift of Ruth and Bruce Daytonexpand_more  2002.47a-rrr

G201expand_more

Among the most intriguing objects recently discovered in the Eastern Han (25-220) tombs of Szechuan province are so-called "money trees." Typically made of a bronze trunk and branches set into a ceramic base, they are called "money trees" because the lower part of the lattice-like branches are decorated with coin-shaped designs that imitate actual coins of the Han period. The coinage represents the wealth and abundance necessary to nourish the spirit in the afterlife, and the tree symbolized renewable, on-going monetary sustenance and unending prosperity.

The top of the tree is surmounted by an elegant phoenix (feng huang) or bird of good omen, but perhaps the most interesting aspects are the tops of the branches, which are cast with lively scenes of ancient ritual. In the top center of the branches is Xi Wang mu, Queen Mother of the West, seated in a sort of canopied shrine and being entertained by various performers, flying horses, and other mythological animals. Xi Wang mu emerged during Han (206 BCE - 220 CE) as an important deity of rulership and self-cultivation. She was eventually incorporated into the Taoist pantheon and became a popular subject for sculpture, mirrors, and decorated textiles.

file_downloadprintshare
View Details arrow_forward
clear

Audio

Money Tree (#183)