Ancient Bronze Shaman Figure Ornament Pendant Pin 300BC Start Price USD 89.99 Current Price USD 89.99 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Wednesday, October 29, 2008 End Time Friday, November 28, 2008 Location Lummi Island See more about 'Ancient Bronze Shaman Figure Ornament Pendant Pin 300BC' Description Your browser does not support JavaScript. To view this page, enable JavaScript if it is disabled or upgrade your browser. Click here to see almost 800 archaeology/ancient history books and 500 authentic ancient artifacts on our eBay store! Very Handsome Decorative Bronze Shamanic Ornament/Pendant of Human Figure 300 B.C. CLASSIFICATION: Ancient shaman’s bronze ornament/pendant. Mounted onto contemporary chain with contemporary split ring. Also can be mounted onto stick pin (no charge). Or mounted onto plaque or shadow box upon request (additional shipping charges apply). ATTRIBUTION: Ancient China. Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.). SIZE/MEASUREMENTS: Length: 36 millimeters. Width: 16 millimeters. Depth: 1 millimeter. Weight: 1.70 grams. Chain: Contemporary gold tone 40 centimeters (16 inches). A wide variety of other chains are available upon request in sizes from 16 to 30 inches, and in metals ranging from gold and silver electroplate to sterling silver and solid 14kt gold as well as a bronze-toned copper chain. The default chain (absent contrary instructions) is gold tone, 16 inches. For a more authentic touch, we also have available handcrafted Greek black leather cords. NOTES: Can also be mounted onto a plaque or into a shadow box (see below). CONDITION: Excellent. Intact, though perhaps missing one arm. No cracks, no repairs. Very light porosity (surface pitting caused by contact with earth while buried). Good finish. Professionally conserved. DETAIL: This is very handsome decorative bronze ornament attributed to the Warring States Period of Ancient China. It was certainly designed to be a decorative embellishment of some kind – but whether it was meant to be a pendant, we’re not sure. It is most certainly a human representation, and as lightly as it is constructed it could only have had an ornamental function. So best bet is that it was indeed a pendant. Figures of shamans were very popular amongst the ancient Chinese, so it would not be surprising to find it has some shamanic or religious value. In fact shamans of the era oftentimes had jade or bronze figures sewn into the sleeve cuffs of their garments, which would make a pleasing tinkling noise as they walk or moved their arms. In any event the piece is clearly seen to be in human form. To the “bale” we have attached a contemporary split ring, so as to then attach a 16 inch gold tone chain. If you prefer we have chains in lengths from 16 to 24 inches available in many other metals including bronze, gold and silver electroplate, solid 14kt gold and sterling silver. If you would prefer, we could also make this into a brooch or stick pin (see below) free of charge. Simply inform us that you would rather have this mounted to a pin rather than a chain. If you request (follow the links below), we could mount the artifact onto a framed display plaque (see it here), and it would make a great gift. The plaque narrates a brief outline of the history of ancient China along with an image of the Great Wall of China. It would make a very handsome gift, for yourself or a friend, and would surely delight a son or daughter. It would not only make a very handsome display, but would be very educational as well. If you prefer, the artifact could be installed within a glass-front shadow box with or without printed history (see it here). Such delicately constructed embellishments are quite rare, generally uncovered completely crushed and/or mutilated or corroded to the point where they are merely a green stain in the soil. This specimen is nearly perfect; probably lost one arm, as there is only a nub. However unlike most smaller bronze artifacts which are completely disfigured by corrosion (porosity) the consequence of burial in caustic soil, this particular piece is not only recognizable, it is entirely wearable and reasonably intact. By fate or fortune it came to rest in very gentle soil conditions for twenty-some centuries. Of course in these 300% photo enlargements you can clearly see evidence that it spent several millennia buried. However it does not exhibit the gross corrosion or porosity which so commonly completely disfigures many small ancient metal artifacts. What a fantastically handsome pendant this makes, bound to generate lots of interest and envy! Considering that it is almost 2,500 years old, the condition is extraordinary! HISTORY: Sharing the language and culture of the preceding Shang Dynasty, the Zhou (Chou) Dynasty through conquest and colonization gradually enveloped much of North China. The Zhou dynasty lasted longer than any other, from 1027 to 221 B.C. The early decentralization of the Zhou Dynasty has oftentimes been compared to Europe’s medieval feudal system. However social organization in the Zhou Dunasty was more predicated upon family and tribal ties than feudal legal bonds. Philosophers of the period enunciated the doctrine of the "mandate of heaven", the notion that the ruler (the "son of heaven") governed by divine right. In reality the emperor shared power with the local lords. At times the local lords were oftentimes more powerful than the emperor. In the later dynasty, large scale conflicts oftentimes erupted between rival local lords (eventually culminating in the “Warring States” period). The late Zhou Dynasty’s potpourri of city-states became progressively centralized, characterized by greater central control over local governments and systematic agricultural taxation. The iron-tipped, ox-drawn plow, together with improved irrigation techniques, brought higher agricultural yields, which, in turn, supported a steady rise in population. The growth in population was accompanied by the production of much new wealth, and a new class of merchants and traders arose. However in 771 B.C. the Zhou court was sacked, and its king was killed by invading barbarians who were allied with rebel lords. The Zhou retreated eastward relocating their capital city. Today historians divide the Zhou Dynasty into the Western Zhou (1027-771 B.C.) and Eastern Zhou (770-221 B.C.). The west was abandoned, and the power of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty gradually diminished. The Eastern Dynasty itself is further divided by historians into two periods reflecting the accelerating fragmentation and disintegration of China. The first from 770 to 476 B.C. is called the Spring and Autumn Period. The second is known as the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.), as China completely dissolved. Though marked by disunity and civil strife, these two periods marked an era of cultural advancements known today as the "golden age" of China. Commerce was stimulated by the introduction of coinage. The use of iron not only revolutionized the production of weaponry but also the manufacture of farm implements. An atmosphere of reform was the result of the competition between rival warlords to build strong and loyal armies, requiring increased economic production and a strong tax base. This created a demand for ever-increasing numbers of skilled, literate officials and teachers (a “civil service”), recruited on merit. Public works such as flood control, irrigation projects, and canal digging were executed on a grand scale. Enormous walls were built around cities and along the broad stretches of the northern frontier. Many of the era’s intellectuals were employed as advisers by China’s rulers on the methods of government, war, and diplomacy. So many different philosophies developed during these two periods that the era is often referred to as “The Hundred Schools of Thought”. The period produced many of the great classical writings on which Chinese practices were to be based for the next two and one-half millennia, including those of Confucius (551-479 B.C.). HISTORY OF ANCIENT CHINESE CIVILIZATION: Want to know a little more about the history of human civilization in ancient China? Click right here. Domestic shipping is $3.99 for first class mail or $6.99 for Priority Mail. Domestic rates include USPS Delivery Confirmation (you might be able to update the status of your shipment on-line at the USPS Web Site). Canadian shipments are $3.99 for Air Mail; International shipments are $4.99 for Air Mail (and generally are NOT tracked; trackable shipments are EXTRA). I can add most other items I sell to the shipment for only $0.99 each. Your purchase will ordinarily be shipped within 48 hours of payment. We package as well as anyone in the business, with lots of protective padding and containers. Insurance is available for both domestic and international shipments ($4 for domestic shipments; $6 for international shipments; ONLY required when PayPal is used – you may deduct this amount if you prefer an uninsured shipment AND you pay by check or money order). We do NOT recommend uninsured shipments, and expressly disclaim any responsibility for the loss of an uninsured shipment. Unfortunately the contents of parcels are easily “lost” or misdelivered by postal employees – even in the USA. If you intend to pay via PayPal, please be aware that PayPal Protection Policies REQUIRE insured, trackable shipments. If you do NOT want an insured shipment, send us a check or money order and deduct the invoiced insurance premium. We do offer U.S. Postal Service Priority Mail, Registered Mail, and Express Mail for both international and domestic shipments, as well United Parcel Service (UPS) and Federal Express (Fed-Ex). Please ask for a rate quotation. I prefer your personal check or money order over any other form of payment – and I will ship immediately upon receipt of your check (no “holds”). If upon receipt of the item you are disappointed for any reason whatever, I offer a no questions asked return policy. Send it back, I will give you a complete refund of the purchase price. Most of the items I offer come from the collection of a family friend who was active in the field of Archaeology for over forty years. However many of the items also come from purchases I make in Eastern Europe, India, and from the Levant (Eastern Mediterranean/Near East) from various institutions and dealers. Though I have always had an interest in archaeology, my own academic background was in sociology and cultural anthropology. After my retirement however, I found myself drawn to archaeology as well. Aside from my own personal collection, I have made extensive and frequent additions of my own via purchases on Ebay (of course), as well as many purchases from both dealers and institutions throughout the world – but especially in the Near East and in Eastern Europe. I spend over half of my year out of the United States, and have spent much of my life either in India or Eastern Europe. In fact much of what we generate on Yahoo, Amazon and Ebay goes to support The Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, as well as some other worthy institutions in Europe connected with Anthropology and Archaeology. I acquire some small but interesting collections overseas from time-to-time, and have as well some duplicate items within my own collection which I occasionally decide to part with. Though I have a collection of ancient coins numbering in the tens of thousands, my primary interest is in ancient jewelry. My wife also is an active participant in the “business” of antique and ancient jewelry, and is from Russia. I would be happy to provide you with a certificate/guarantee of authenticity for any item you purchase from me. There is a $2 fee for mailing under separate cover. Whenever I am overseas I have made arrangements for purchases to be shipped out via domestic mail. If I am in the field, you may have to wait for a week or two for a COA to arrive via international air mail. But you can be sure your purchase will arrive properly packaged and promptly – even if I am absent. And when I am in a remote field location with merely a notebook computer, at times I am not able to access my email for a day or two, so be patient, I will always respond to every email. Please see our "ADDITIONAL TERMS OF SALE." Place a Bid!