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A well preserved Ancient Ordos region bronze belt plate, dating to the 4th Century B.C.
The heavily gilt belt plate is modeled in low relief and depicts a striking figure of a cowering Buffalo, with knee bent and tail between the legs. The creature is shown with thick hide and long striated horns. One ear points upwards, whilst the other faces downwards so as to accommodate the attachment hole, which lies to the left (now encrusted).
This plaque would have been paired with another in antiquity and affixed to the ends of a fabric belt, enabling the belt to be fastened via interlocking plates. The People of ancient Ordos, in North-West China achieved remarkable wealth in the mid-first millennium B.C., through what is now known as pastoral nomadism, where animal husbandry coupled with frequent migration enables a people to take advantage of rich grazing land. As the Ordos people were constantly moving, they were exposed to a remarkable mixture of artistic styles, including the Scythians to the west and the Warring States Chinese to the east. This resulted in a rich, energetic art, which is only now being fully appreciated.
This example may well show a sacrificial scene, as the buffalo appears in a collapsing state, with head to the floor.
Length: 2 8/9 inches.
Condition: Unrestored, with good gilding preservation.
Provenance: Ex. British Private collection, acquired 1990's.
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