Rare set of five miniature gilt bronze chariot fittings dating from the Western Han period (206 BC – 25 AD). The set has three tops of chariot posts and two axle caps which are partly covered by corrosion. During the Han dynasty restrictions were introduced to reduce the cost of sometimes lavish burials. Influential families started burying their loved ones with miniatures of daily life such as pottery servants and animals, as well as bronze weaponry and other necessities. These chariot fittings are a nice example and originally formed part of a very small chariot. Between 1995 and 1996 a tomb was excavated in the village of Shuang Ru Cun in Shandong province. The tomb was undisturbed and dated to the period between the emperors Wu Di (141 – 87 BC) and his youngest son Zhao Di (87 – 74 BC). It belonged to a king called Liu Kuan (97 – 86 BC) and it contained a large number of artifacts. Among the objects recovered was a set of chariot parts which are very similar to the set in our collection. Other miniatures from the same period can also be found in the Lowlands-collection, for instance the miniature crossbow mechanism 0322 (Use Quick Find on the left of this page). The height of the chariot fittings is approximately 2 cm.