TWO PAINTED POTTERY 'BEAR' SUPPORTS

Description:

China, Han dynasty
H. 13-13,5 cm
Each seated upright on their haunches with the mouth opened and large ears, with traces of red, light blue, and black pigments, with a small hole on top.
From a European private collection, acquired at L.H.W. Hong Kong, 7 April 1997 - Slightly chipped
Fittings or support elements in the shape of bears were typically made of bronze in varying degrees of size, quality, and decoration. For one such example, cf. an inlaid bronze bear of similar posture sold by Christie's New York, 20 September 2013, lot 1499.