Hi everyone,

While browsing through Chinese artworks at Wikimedia Commons, I came across a very large page of pictures that a User:Okki had taken from the Cernuschi Museum in Paris. Although the pictures and objects in them are beautiful, Okki did not bother to add any descriptions of the pictures and I am having trouble finding definite information about them or which era the majority of them belong to. Cernuschi Museum sites were slightly helpful, but not much. I was wondering if one of our French CHF members (I'm looking at Fcharton, lol) might know anything about the museum and the artworks therein. Below are some of the artworks with my own assumptions about which era of Chinese history they were made; if any of you guys find definite information on any one of these items, please share here!



This has a bizarre mythological creature on the top; is it a half snake, half-dragon? It is hard to tell. I'm guessing this comes from the Eastern Zhou Dynasty.



It's funny, you can see the reflection in the glass of this User:Okki taking a picture of this. I like the chain links from these bronze vases. Eastern Zhou Dynasty, anyone?



There are five rotating scenes on this bronze vase of either hunting or warfare, as there are men armed with bows and swords alongside mythological creatures. I'm guessing once again that it is Eastern Zhou Dynasty, maybe 6th or 5th century BC?



This looks like a miniature terracotta sculpture of a gatehouse with two towers and a ram's head placed at the center. Eastern Han Dynasty, perhaps?



A bizarre three-pronged earthenware lamp; from the unique and archaic style I'm guessing Western Han Dynasty, but it could be as late as the Eastern Jin Dynasty.



Hah! Little figurines doing handstands off of earthenware bowls painted in lacquer. This has Han Dynasty written all over it, but I could be wrong in that assumption.



I can't tell if these objects are wooden, earthenware, or both, but they are surely covered in lacquer, and the style of these figurines also seems to be from the Han Dynasty era, Western or Eastern.



A huge metal pipe with inlaid silver; the archaic swirl designs gives this one away as an Eastern Zhou era product. It almost looks like a miniature chimney; anyone have any idea what this might have been used for?



This terracotta figure is hands down from the Han Dynasty; now whether it is Western or Eastern Han, I do not know.



This lacquered goose is definitely from the Western Han Dynasty; I checked online and verified this using the Cernuschi website, one of the very limited amount of pictures they feature.

More pictures coming soon...

Eric (En Rui)

Northern Wei, Sui, or Tang Dynasty is my approximate range for this carved sculpture.



Either Song, Western Xia, Liao, or Jin Dynasty sculpture; it's that distinctive style in the face and body.



Once again, diddo.



This marble sculpture, on the other hand, confounds me. Period of division before Sui, perhaps?



If these ladies aren't from the Tang Dynasty, then you can just call me Elvis Presley. I'm just going on hairstyle and dress, though. Usually ladies from the Tang are presented as a bit plumper and full-figured; these ladies are quite slender.



An ox pulling a cart, I'm guessing one of the northern dynasties like Northern Wei, Qi or Zhou.



Obviously Tang ladies on horseback, terracotta.



Ah! This one scared the crap out of me. Lol. Period of division? Sui or Tang Dynasty?



Gentlemen dressed in robes and caps, students or officials, perhaps? Wait a minute, they're wearing trousers; officials and gentrymen did not wear trousers. That was something that everyone else wore, like merchants, soldiers, peasants, etc.



I confirmed this one; a terracotta figurine of a foreigner on a camel from the Northern Wei Dynasty.

Soldiers and armor next!

Han Dynasty, Three Kingdoms, or Jin Dynasty is my guess for this rider.



Dude! That is an awesome shield! I'm guessing Western Jin to Northern Zhou Dynasty on this one. Thoughts?



Three Kingdoms or Jin Dynasty is my guess for this cavalryman.



Same with this guy. I like the armor on the horse.



It looks like he was originally holding a spear. Period of division, to Sui, to Tang should be the range.



Southern and Northern Dynasties?



A man in armor holding a stringed instrument; well, it's at least as early as the 4th century, but it could be as late as Sui or Tang.



Mean looking dude holding a sword in its scabbard, period of division I'm assuming.



From the style of the armor, I have little doubt that this figurine comes from the Tang Dynasty.



Again, Tang Dynasty.

Eric (En Rui)

Who is this guy? Alexander the Great? He sure has the curly hair of Alexander's.

Eric (En Rui)

No one has any comments about these brilliant pieces of art and artifacts?

Eric (En Rui)

Hi,

well actually I happen to be a brand new member of CHF but also a parisien (and proud to be ! ) ! And the thing is that I wanted to go to that museum for, like ever.
So if no one give you the info before, I propose you to wait for a few days (the place is closed on monday and I work tuesday) and I shall be happy to bring you the infos you don't have about those artefacts.

Non-Han Nan Ban, can you re-size and make the pictures smaller? It takes a long time to load up as they are too big.

Awesome! Thanks for offering to help, that is very kind of you. Our senior member Fcharton, who lives in France, has also offered to visit the museum and take pictures of the placards which provide descriptions for each one of these artworks (I hope he takes a few new pictures of artworks too).



I'll see what I can do. Should I go to photobucket, or whatever, for that?

Eric (En Rui)

Yeah.. try photobucket... it has a resize tool inside

Hi, so for those who are interested, I went to the museum and got the infos about those great pieces.

Here’s a first row :



Vase « Lei » for liquids
Bronze
Western Zhou Dynasty (around 1050 – 771 BC)
Late 11th – Early 10th Century BC



Bottles « Hu » in Shape of Flasks
Bronze
Spring and Autumn Period (770 – 481 BC)
6th – 5th Century BC



Bottle « Hu » for fermented beverages
Bronze
Henan
Warring States Period (481 – 221 BC)

Another few :




Mortuary Chamber Pediment
Embossed Terra Cotta
Western Han Period (206 BC – 9 AD)



Mortuary Lamp
Terra Cotta
In the aera between Gangzhou, Guizhou and Guandong
Han Period (206 BC – 220 AD)



Small Mortuary Funitures
Painted Terra Cotta
End of Western Han Period (206 BC – 9 AD)



Two Vases « Lian » Decorated with Acrobats
Terra Cotta
Western Han Period (206 BC – 9 AD)



Sunshade Handgrip Ornament
Inlaid Bronze
Western Han Period (206 BC – 9 AD)



Horse and Horseman (Qima Wushi Yong)
Terra Cotta
Western Han Period (206 BC – 9 AD)



Servant (Shinü Yong)
Terra Cotta
Shaanxi
Western Han Period (206 BC – 9 AD)



Pourer in Shape of a Goose
Painted Terra Cotta
Western Han Period (206 BC – 9 AD)

Amitabha Buddha (Amituofo)
Marble
Hebei
Nothern Qi Style (550 – 578)
Liao Dynasty (907 – 1125)



Avalokitesvara Boddhisattva (Guanyin)
Stone
Sui Dynasty (581 – 618)



Avalokitesvara Boddhisattva (Guanyin)
Wood
Nothern China
Jin Dynasty (1115 – 1234)



Avalokitesvara Boddhisattva seated in a positiont of relaxation (Guanyin)
Late Yuan Dynasty (1279 – 1368) – Early Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644)
15th Century

Three Standing Servant (Shinü Yong)
Terra Cotta
Nothern Wei Dynasty (386 – 534)

May I call you Elvis from now on ?



Didn’t find this one. But I’d say that it’s from Nothern Wei like the others, judging by the look of it, and by the order of the pictures. The next artifacts come from a single room in the museum : the Wei-Sui Room, so maybe Sui Dynasty also.



Warrior on a Caparisoned Horse (Jiaqi Juzhuang Yong)
Terra Cotta
Nothern Wei Dynasty (386 – 534)



Warrior on a Caparisoned Horse (Jiaqi Juzhuang Yong)
Terra Cotta
Nothern Wei Dynasty (386 – 534)



Tomb Guard (Wushi Yong)
Terra Cotta
Nothern Wei Dynasty (386 – 534)



Horseman Bearing a Horn (Qima Yong)
Terra Cotta
Nothern Wei Dynasty (386 – 534)



Tomb Beast-Guard (Zhenmushou)
Terra Cotta
Nothern China
Nothern Wei Dynasty (386 – 534)
Late 5th – Early 6th Century



Two Officials
Terra Cotta
Nothern China
6th Century



Cart Pulled by a Bull (Niuche)
Terra Cotta
Sui Dynasty (581 – 618)



Pipa Player (Tan pipa non yong)
Terra Cotta
Sui Dynasty (581 – 618)

And here are the last ones :



Camel Rider (Qiantuo Yong)
Terra Cotta
Nothern Wei Dynasty (386 – 534)



Warrior (Wushi yong)
Glazed Terra Cotta
Sui Dynasty (581 – 618)



Warrior (Wushi yong)
Terra Cotta with traces of polychromy and gold
Guansu Province
Tang Dynasty (618 – 907)



Tomb Guard (Wushi yong)
Terra Cotta
Tang Dynasty (618 – 907)
7th – Early 8th Century



Eight Musicians-Horsewomen Orchestra
Terra Cotta
Tang Dynasty (618 – 907)
Early 8th Century

I'll soon post a better picture than this one because, they are actually eight, all playing different musical instruments.



Foreign Dancer (Huren wu yong)
Terra Cotta with traces of polychromy
Tang Dynasty (618 – 907)


Well I have to admit, your guess was pretty good ! My propositions would'nt have been that accurate, for sure.

I didn't take my cam with me this time but this place is full of other interesting art pieces. I should return there quite soon, so I'll post some other pictures then.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! <Gives Temujin an enormous hug>



Yes, I sadly admit, you may call me Elvis now.


Eric (En Rui)