Set Miniature Chinese Qing Dynasty Bronze Water Buffalo Sculptures 19th Century

Details

Description

19th Century Chinese Late Qing Dynasty Bronze Water Buffalo Sculptures– Miniature Set, c.19th Century.
A charming matched pair of miniature … Read more 19th Century Chinese Late Qing Dynasty Bronze Water Buffalo Sculptures– Miniature Set, c.19th Century.
A charming matched pair of miniature Chinese bronze water buffalo / bull figures, solid cast and modelled in powerful low, charging poses with looped tails and ribbed horns. Each is finished in a rich dark brown patina with olive undertones and small areas of natural verdigris from age.
Dating to the late Qing dynasty in the later 19th century, the scale, weight and surface are very much in keeping with scholar’s desk bronzes – intimate objects intended to be handled, contemplated and displayed on a scholar’s table or in a cabinet of curiosities. In Chinese culture the buffalo or ox symbolises strength, patience and agricultural prosperity, making this pair a quietly meaningful emblem of perseverance and good fortune.

Dimensions (each)
Length: approx. 7.5 cm
Height: approx. 4.3 cm
Width: approx. 4 cm
Weights
Bull A: 142.44 g
Bull B: 145.34 g
(Total approx. 287.8 g for the pair)
Period / Origin
China
Late Qing dynasty, c. late 19th century
Why They Work in Today’s Interiors
This is bronze, not modern resin, with an attractive, naturally aged patina and touches of verdigris.
Miniature yet full of energy and character; only around 7.5 cm long but visually strong on a desk or shelf.
Conceived as a pair, they work beautifully in dialogue – facing one another, slightly offset, or standing guard at either end of a small book stack.
Rich with symbolism: the buffalo/ox is associated with strength, hard work and prosperity in Chinese tradition.
Easy to place and display; they sit solidly and look good from multiple angles.
Collectors’ Context
Small Chinese bronzes of this kind were eagerly collected in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when Western connoisseurs began to assemble serious collections of Asian art. Today, comparable scholar’s bronzes can be found in collections and important private collections worldwide. This miniature pair fits neatly into that long tradition of appreciation for finely cast Chinese bronzes, while remaining very accessible as decorative objects.
Provenance
Private Eastern Shires collection
Curated and catalogued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD
Purchased on the secondary market; earlier ownership not documented, as is often the case with small 19th-century bronzes.
Provenance and dating are offered in good faith and are based on visual inspection and comparison with similar recorded examples. See less