Two associated turquoise-inlaid gilt-bronze 'bear' fittingsHan dynasty6.0cm and 5.0cm high (2).Provenance: 漢 銅鎏金嵌綠松石熊形承足兩件The bear imagery was popular during the Western Han Dynasty symbolizing heroic power and has been associated with legendary rulers. Despite only appearing for a short period, they can be found in a plethora of works of art, including as integral supports for bronze (lot see 116), lacquer and ceramic vessels, as solid-cast bronze sculptural mat-weights, in moulded ceramic tiles, in textiles and as carved jade and hardstone figures.pare with similarly shaped gilt-bronze fittings, see Sotheby's, New York, 21 Sep 2021, lot 43, and , New York, 16 Mar 2015, lot 2004. See also a pair of mirror-imaged gilt-bronze bear without inlays in the collection of Xianyang Museum,Two Emperors: China's Ancient Origins, Melbourne, 2002, p.117, pl.72.熊作爲力量勇猛的象徵與西漢這大刀利斧開疆擴土的朝代息息相關。雖然在中國歷史上曇花一現，它的身影在金石玉器、漆器、織物各種工藝中層出齊放（見拍品116號戰國錯銀熊足香爐）。比較相似承足，見蘇富比，紐約，2021年9月21日，拍品43號，及邦瀚斯，紐約，2015年3月16日，拍品2004. 咸陽博物館藏一對對稱承足，見《Two Emperors: China's Ancient Origins》，墨爾本，2002年，頁117，圖版72。