Olivia Xu
Associate Specialist
Lot 305
THREE GOLD AND SILVER-INLAY BRONZE FITTINGS Warring States period/Han Dynasty
2 November 2023, 15:00 GMT
London, New Bond Street£4,000 - £6,000
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Chen Xie
Specialist
Edward Luper
Specialist, Chinese Works of Art
THREE GOLD AND SILVER-INLAY BRONZE FITTINGS
Warring States period/Han Dynasty
One of tall hollow cylindrical section with a mushroom-shaped terminal, finely decorated in gold-inlay with geometric swirling patterns, with three apertures. 9.5cm (3 3/4in) long; the second of round shape, the slightly domed surface similarly decorated with swirling patterns in gold-inlay, the reverse with a bar. 3.8cm (1 1/2in) diam.; the third of hollow cylindrical section with a bulbous terminal inlaid with hardstones, the sides issuing a curved hook, the exterior decorated in gold-inlay with geometric patterns. 7cm (2 3/4in) long, wood stands. (6).
One of tall hollow cylindrical section with a mushroom-shaped terminal, finely decorated in gold-inlay with geometric swirling patterns, with three apertures. 9.5cm (3 3/4in) long; the second of round shape, the slightly domed surface similarly decorated with swirling patterns in gold-inlay, the reverse with a bar. 3.8cm (1 1/2in) diam.; the third of hollow cylindrical section with a bulbous terminal inlaid with hardstones, the sides issuing a curved hook, the exterior decorated in gold-inlay with geometric patterns. 7cm (2 3/4in) long, wood stands. (6).
Footnotes
戰國/漢 銅錯金銀車馬器 一組三件
Provenance: a European private collection
來源：歐洲私人收藏
This present fittings are a testament to the refined artistry and mastery of the metal workers of their time. The inlay decoration, which uses both gold and silver, would have been created by casting shallow indentations on the original bronze object and then inlaying the gold and silver, which was worked cold.
Compare with a related bronze cylindrical fitting, 3rd century Ad, illustrated by W.Watson, The Arts of China to AD 900, New Haven, 1995, p.46. See also two related cylindrical fittings found from the remnants of a chariot carriage which was excavated from a Han dynasty tomb in Mancheng, Hebei Province, illustrated in Archaeological report of the Han tombs in Mancheng, vol.1, Beijing, 1980, p.323, fig.219-7.
Compare with a related group of gold and silver-inlaid bronze fittings, Warring States/Han dynasty, some of which are also inlaid with turquoise, which were sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 19 January 2023, lot 3008.
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