Wei Asian Arts

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W E I A S I A N A R T S

Oriental Art & Antiques

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A pair of belt plaques

III – IV century

Gilt bronze

L:6,4 cm x 3,5cm

L:6,9 cm x 3,5 cm

A pair of belt plaques decorated with two mythical dragons with wide open jaws.

Starting from the Warring States period, Chinese had contacts with nomads from the north and adopted some of their forms of dress including belts buckles to hold up their clothes. Belts gradually became an important accessory showing a man’s status and rank.

Gradually belt hooks and plaques were replaced by belt sets that generally comprised a set of plaques sewn on a leather or cloth belt. These belts were popular in

China

from the Western Jin (265-316) onwards (ref: E.Bunker & J.M.White, ”Adornment of the body and the soul, ancient Chinese ornaments from the Mengdiexuan collection”, University of Hong Kong and Museum Society,1999 – page 71)