拍賣筆記 vol.101 佳士得紐約：晚商安陽青銅柄嵌玉刃矛，銘「倗舟」，44100美元售出 - A Late Shang Dynasty, Anyanginscribed Spearhead, Peng Zhou Mao

本件「矛」為晚商時期極為罕見之青銅柄嵌玉刃兵器（刃部材質推測為大理石或石灰石，現有所變質）。矛之青銅柄兩側各鑄一族徽，圖像表現為一人站立舟中，手持貝串。此矛於1965年經斯托克萊之孫菲利普在倫敦蘇富比拍賣，後由著名華裔外交家暨收藏家吳權博士購入。

Shang Dynasty Inscribed Spearhead_ Peng Zhou Mao (1)

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絕版威尼斯1954中國藝術大展圖錄：MOSTRA D'ARTE CINESE 1954

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44410美元，人民幣33萬元售出。

晚商 公元前十二至十一世紀 安陽 青銅柄嵌玉刃矛

LATE SHANG DYNASTY, ANYANG, 12TH-11TH CENTURY BC

估價

美元 30,000 – 美元 50,000

拍品售出

美元 44,410

晚商 公元前十二至十一世紀 安陽 青銅柄嵌玉刃矛

銘文：倗舟

5 1⁄8 in. (13 cm.) long

來源

黃濬（1878–1951）珍藏

Adolphe Stoclet (1871-1949) 珍藏，比利時

Philippe R. Stoclet 珍藏

倫敦蘇富比，1965年5月11日，拍品編號130

吳權博士 (1910-1997)珍藏

吳蓮伯博物院，英國，館藏編號E.4.5.

出版

黃濬，《鄴中片羽三集》，卷下，北京，1942年，頁14

中國社會科學院考古研究所，《殷周金文集成》，北京，1984年，編號11449

汪濤及劉雨，《流散歐美殷周有銘青銅器集錄》，上海， 2007年，編號347

本件「矛」為晚商時期極為罕見之青銅柄嵌玉刃兵器（刃部材質推測為大理石或石灰石，現有所變質）。矛之青銅柄兩側各鑄一族徽，圖像表現為一人站立舟中，手持貝串。

此族徽早年傳統文獻解讀為「子禾貝」，即「手持貝殼之子」；但近年多數學者認為應解讀為「倗舟」（即貝串與舟之意）。亦有學者讀作「嬰舟」（即幼子與舟）。

與本件矛同樣銘文之晚商青銅器，尚見於余省吾（1896-1984）舊藏之觶酒器，刊載於劉體智1934年出版之《山齋吉金錄》卷五（圖版1），後於2019年3月22日在紐約佳士得拍出；另美國賽克勒收藏（Arthur M. Sackler Collections）之晚商鼎亦鑄有此族徽，見於1987年巴格利（R. Bagley）《賽克勒收藏商代禮器》（頁459），該書亦提及包括本件矛在內的其他相關銅器。

本件矛最早於1942年由古董商暨收藏家黃濬（字伯川）收入其所著《鄴中片羽三集》內出版（圖版2）。黃氏曾畢業於晚清京師同文館，通曉德語、英語與法語，早年任職德國銀行翻譯，後接手北京知名古董店「尊古齋」，成為京城重要文物經紀人之一，所出版之《鄴中片羽》、《尊古齋所見吉金圖初集》與《古玉圖錄初集》等書，皆為近代中國古董界重要著作。黃氏經手之商周青銅器，多來自晚商都邑「殷墟」（古稱鄴），今大多已為博物館所藏，流入私人收藏者甚少。

此矛應由黃濬直接售予比利時著名銀行家暨藝術收藏家阿道夫・斯托克萊（Adolphe Stoclet）。斯托克萊收藏廣博，不僅涵蓋西方藝術名作，亦囊括埃及、美索不達米亞、中國、高棉、非洲與前哥倫布時期美洲藝術。此矛極可能曾存放於其著名住所「斯托克萊宮」內，由維也納藝術家約瑟夫・霍夫曼（Josef Hoffmann）設計之精美收藏櫃中妥善保存。斯托克萊宮為20世紀早期建築界之經典作品，室內陳設除霍夫曼親自操刀外，更有古斯塔夫・克林姆（Gustav Klimt）繪製之壁畫。

此矛於1965年經斯托克萊之孫菲利普在倫敦蘇富比拍賣，後由著名華裔外交家暨收藏家吳權博士購入。吳權博士於1950至60年代大量收藏中國藝術品，並在英國南部創辦以其父命名之「吳蓮伯博物院」，推廣中華文化與藝術。

常見問題解答：晚商安陽青銅柄嵌玉刃矛（銘「倗舟」）

1. 這件青銅矛的意義為何？

此件晚商（約公元前12至11世紀）青銅柄嵌玉刃矛，發現於安陽地區，意義非凡。首先，它作為青銅器中罕見的嵌玉刃兵器，顯示此矛應具禮儀或彰顯身份的用途，而非純然的實戰兵器。其次，矛之青銅柄上鑄有清晰銘文，顯示特定的氏族標誌，為商代社會結構研究提供了珍貴線索。此外，此矛有詳細而著名的收藏傳承紀錄與學術出版記錄，對研究中國早期青銅器及其收藏史具有重要價值。

2. 矛上的銘文所代表的意涵是什麼？

矛柄上的銘文為一族徽圖像，顯示一人站立於舟中，手持貝串。過去傳統解讀為「子禾貝」（意即「手持貝殼之子」），但現代多數學者傾向於讀作「倗舟」（即「貝串與舟」），亦有學者主張可讀為「嬰舟」（即「幼子與舟」）。此族徽應為製作或使用此兵器的氏族或家族標記。

3. 這件矛與其他已知商代器物之間的關係如何？

與此矛相同的「倗舟」族徽亦出現於其他晚商青銅器，例如余省吾舊藏的一件青銅觶，以及賽克勒（Arthur M. Sackler）收藏的一件青銅鼎。相同氏族標誌跨越不同青銅器類型，顯示「倗舟」族在晚商社會中可能具有重要地位或影響力。

4. 此矛可以反映出商代社會和戰爭的哪些特點？

此類儀式性兵器象徵著商代統治者的權力與威望，商王朝透過軍事實力統治周邊地區。此矛的禮儀化設計、青銅鑲嵌玉石的工藝，凸顯出它的象徵性及統治階層的特殊地位，也顯示商代統治階級可能以此類兵器彰顯其軍事權威及政治地位。

5. 此矛的收藏歷史（來源）為何？

此矛的收藏歷史可追溯至20世紀初期，最早由著名古董商及收藏家黃濬於1942年出版於《鄴中片羽三集》。黃濬的收藏主要來自殷商都城安陽（古稱鄴）。此矛可能由黃氏直接售予比利時銀行家兼藝術收藏家阿道夫・斯托克萊（Adolphe Stoclet）。1965年，其孫菲利普·斯托克萊在倫敦蘇富比拍賣該矛，此後為中國外交官暨收藏家吳權博士收藏，並存放於英國吳蓮伯博物院。

6. 黃濬是誰？他的參與為何重要？

黃濬（1878–1951），字伯川，為20世紀早期重要的中國古董界人物。他精通德、英、法三語，畢業於晚清京師同文館，原為德國銀行翻譯，後掌管北京著名古玩店尊古齋，活躍於北京古董市場。他經手並出版許多重要青銅器與玉器，特別是安陽地區的商周器物，著述如《鄴中片羽》系列，現今多已進入博物館收藏。他對此矛的紀錄為該器提供了重要且珍貴的早期歷史證據。

6. 黃濬是誰？他的參與為何重要？

黃濬（1878–1951），字伯川，為20世紀上半葉中國最重要的古董商及收藏家之一。他精通德、英、法文，早年畢業於清末京師同文館，從事翻譯工作並涉足古董買賣。他出版的《鄴中片羽三集》等著作，收錄大量晚商安陽出土青銅器，對商周器物研究極具學術價值。由於他詳細記錄此矛的來源與細節，因此為今日對該矛的研究提供了寶貴的歷史文獻與線索。

7. 商代矛如何進入西方著名收藏？

此矛進入西方收藏主要透過比利時著名銀行家兼收藏家阿道夫・斯托克萊（Adolphe Stoclet）購入。斯托克萊的收藏豐富多元，涵蓋歐洲、中國、埃及、美索不達米亞及非洲、美洲藝術品。其收藏於1965年經家族拍賣後流入其他私人收藏家手中，如吳權博士。這反映了20世紀早期東方文物透過國際收藏界的買賣流動的典型現象。

8. 提供資料時此矛的估價為何？

此青銅矛的估價在提供此資料時（應為佳士得拍賣前的估價），為美元30,000至50,000之間。

AN EXTREMELY RARE INSCRIBED SPEARHEAD, PENG ZHOU MAO

LATE SHANG DYNASTY, ANYANG, 12TH-11TH CENTURY BC

Estimate

USD 30,000 – USD 50,000

The blade, probably marble or limestone, now altered, is inset into the bronze socket which is inscribed on either side with a graph reading peng zhao.

5 1⁄8 in. (13 cm.) long

PROVENANCE

Huang Jun (1878–1951) Collection.

Adolphe Stoclet (1871-1949) Collection, Belgium.

Philippe R. Stoclet Collection. 

The Property of Mr. Philippe R. Stoclet (From the Collection of the late Adolphe Stoclet; Sotheby's London, 11 May 1965, lot 130.

Collection of Dr Wou Kiuan (1910-1997).

Wou Lien-Pai Museum, United Kingdom, coll. no. E.4.5.

LITERATURE

Huang Jun, Yezhong pianyu sanji, Beijing, 1942, vol. 2, p. 14.

The Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, ed., Yinzhou jinwen jicheng (Compendium of Yin and Zhou Bronze Inscriptions), Beijing, 1984, no. 11449.

Wang Tao and Liu Yu, A Selection of Early Chinese Bronzes with Inscriptions from Sotheby's and Christie's Sales, Shanghai, 2007, no. 347.

Ceremonial weapons, such as this rare and important spearhead known as a mao, were an important part of state regalia, representing the power and authority of the Shang rulers who owed their domination over neighboring societies to their military prowess. Either side of the bronze socket of the current mao is cast with a clan sign depicting a figure carrying a string of cowrie shells while standing in a boat. In traditional literature, this clan sign was translated as zi he bei (son bearing cowrie). More recently, most scholars translate it as peng zhou (literally 'string of cowrie shells' and 'boat'), while other scholars translate it as ying zhou (literally 'infant' and 'boat'). The same clan sign can be found on a late Shang zhi wine vessel from the collection of Yu Xingwu (1896-1984) published in Liu Tizhi’s Shanzhai jijin lu (The Records of Auspicious Bronzes in the Shanzhai Studio), 1934, vol. 5, p. 49. (Fig. 1) This zhi was subsequently sold at Christie’s New York, Power and Prestige: Important Early Chinese Ritual Bronzes from a Distinguishes European Collection, 22 March 2019, lot 1503. The peng zhou clan sign can also be found on a ding tripod vessel from the Sackler Collection, sold at Christie’s New York, 17 March 2017, lot 1006. The Sackler ding is illustrated by R. Bagley in Shang Ritual Bronzes in the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, Washington, D. C., 1987, p. 459, where the author lists other bronzes bearing the peng zhou clan sign, including the current spearhead. 

The illustrious provenance of the current mao can be traced back to 1942, when it was first published by Huang Jun (1880-1951) in his Ye zhong pianyu sanji (Treasures from the Ye [Anyang] Series III). (Fig. 2) Huang Jun, who goes by his literary name Bochuan, graduated from the late Qing government school for teaching Western languages, Tongwen Guan. He spoke German, English, and French, and served as a translator in a German bank after graduation while working part-time in his uncle’s antique shop, Zungu Zhai. He later became manager of Zungu Zhai and was one of the most prominent figures in the antique trade in Beijing. Huang Jun not only handled some of the most important archaic bronzes and jades, but also published them in catalogues such as the Yezhong pianyu series, Zungu Zhai suo jian jijin tu chu ji, and Guyu tulu chuji (First Collection of Ancient Chinese Jades), which is almost unique for his generation of Chinese dealers. The Ye zhong pianyu series has great academic importance since most of the pieces are believed to be from the late Shang capital Anyang (ancient name Ye). Most of the 133 bronze vessels included in the series are now in museum collections, with only a few remaining in private hands. 

Huang Jun probably sold the current mao directly to the Belgian banker, industrialist and art collector Adolphe Stoclet, whose legendary encyclopedic art collection included not only masterpieces of Western art but also encompassed the arts of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, China and Cambodia, as well as tribal Africa and pre-Columbian Mexico. The mao would have likely been carefully stored in the drawer of an elegant cabinet designed by the leading Viennese artist Josef Hoffmann (1870-1956), whom Stoclet commissioned to build and furnish a residence for himself and his collection in Brussels: the Palais Stoclet. Universally considered one of the great monuments of early 20th century architecture, the Palais not only featured furnishings designed by Hoffmann himself, but also murals by Gustav Klimt (1867-1918) decorating the walls of the dining room. 

After being sold by Stoclet’s grandson, Philippe, at Sotheby’s London in 1965, the current mao subsequently entered the collection of the prominent Chinese diplomat, Dr. Wou Kiuan (1910-1997), who amassed a comprehensive collection of Chinese art during the 1950s-60s. Eager to promote Chinese art and culture, Dr. Wou established a private museum in Southern England named in honor of his father, Wou Lienpai.

Frequently Asked Questions: The Late Shang Dynasty Inscribed Spearhead

1. What is the significance of this spearhead? This Late Shang Dynasty (circa 12th-11th century BC) bronze spearhead from Anyang is significant for several reasons. Firstly, it is an extremely rare example of a bronze-hilted weapon inlaid with a blade likely made of marble or limestone, indicating a ceremonial or high-status purpose rather than purely utilitarian use. Secondly, it bears a cast inscription on both sides of the bronze socket depicting a clan sign, providing valuable insight into the social structures of the Shang Dynasty. Finally, its well-documented provenance, tracing back to prominent collectors and publications, makes it an important piece for the study of early Chinese bronzes and their collecting history.

2. What does the inscription on the spearhead represent? The inscription on the bronze socket is a clan sign depicting a figure standing in a boat and holding a string of cowrie shells. While traditionally interpreted as "子禾貝" (zi he bei), meaning "son bearing cowrie," most modern scholars now believe it should be read as "倗舟" (peng zhou), meaning "string of cowrie shells and boat," or possibly "嬰舟" (ying zhou), meaning "infant and boat." This clan sign likely identified the lineage or group associated with the creation or ownership of the spearhead.

3. How does this spearhead relate to other known Shang Dynasty artifacts? The same "倗舟" (peng zhou) clan sign found on this spearhead has also been discovered on other Late Shang Dynasty bronze artifacts, including a zhi wine vessel formerly in the collection of Yu Xingwu and a ding tripod vessel in the Arthur M. Sackler Collections. The presence of this shared clan sign across different types of bronze objects suggests the importance and potential influence of the "倗舟" clan within Shang society.

4. What can this spearhead tell us about Shang Dynasty society and warfare? Ceremonial weapons like this spearhead were likely symbols of power and authority for the Shang rulers, whose military strength was crucial for their dominance over neighboring societies. The intricate craftsmanship, the use of inlaid jade (or similar stone), and the inscribed clan sign all point to an object of prestige, possibly used in rituals, displays of power, or bestowed upon important individuals.

5. What is the known history of this specific spearhead (provenance)? The provenance of this spearhead can be traced back to the early 20th century. It was first documented in 1942 by the renowned antique dealer and collector Huang Jun in his publication Yezhong pianyu sanji. Huang Jun likely acquired it from the area of the ancient Shang capital, Anyang (Yin Xu). He then sold it to the prominent Belgian banker and art collector Adolphe Stoclet. It was likely displayed in Stoclet's famous Palais Stoclet in Brussels. In 1965, the spearhead was auctioned at Sotheby's London by Stoclet's grandson and subsequently acquired by the Chinese diplomat and collector Dr. Wou Kiuan, who housed it in his Wou Lien-Pai Museum in the UK.

6. Who was Huang Jun and why is his involvement significant? Huang Jun (1878–1951) was a highly influential figure in the early 20th-century Chinese art and antiquities world. Educated in Western languages, he transitioned from banking to managing a prominent antique shop in Beijing and became a key dealer of important archaic bronzes and jades. His publications, including the Yezhong pianyu series, are considered significant academic resources as they documented many Shang and Zhou bronzes, often from the Anyang region, many of which are now in museum collections. His documentation of this spearhead provides a crucial early record of its existence and origin.

7. How did a Shang Dynasty spearhead end up in prominent Western collections? The spearhead entered Western collections through the acquisition by Adolphe Stoclet, a wealthy Belgian collector with diverse artistic interests. The dispersal of Chinese art into Western collections during the late 19th and early to mid-20th centuries was often facilitated by individuals like Huang Jun, who acted as intermediaries between Chinese finds and international collectors. The auction of the Stoclet collection further contributed to the movement of such artifacts into new private and eventually sometimes public collections.

8. What was the estimated value of this spearhead at the time of the provided information? The estimated value of the spearhead at the time of the provided text (likely preceding a Christie's auction) was between USD 30,000 and USD 50,000. This estimate reflects its rarity, historical significance, inscription, and prestigious provenance. The actual sale price could have been higher or lower depending on market conditions and bidder interest.