Lot 314. A gold inlaid bronze garment hook, Han dynasty; 6in (15.3cm) long. Estimate US$ 3,000 - 5,000 (€ 2,500 - 4,200). © Bonhams 2001-2020

Elegantly inlaid with a cut gold geometric pattern of continuous c-commas and volutes extending toward a well-modeled bird head, the design accented by silver wire inlays repeated on the sides and the raised boss.

Note: For a Han example of an elongated hook with geometric pattern and turquoise inlay，see Julia White et al Adornment for the Body and Soul: Ancient Chinese Ornaments from the Mengdiexuan Collection (Hong Kong: The Univ. Museum and Art Gallery, 1999), p. 111. For a Warring states version, see ibid p. 107.

Compare also a related Warring States example with elaborate gold geometric pattern inlay published in Simon Kwan and Sun Ji Zhongguo Gudai Jinshi [Chinese Gold Ornaments] (Hong Kong: Muwen Tang Meishu Chubanshe, 2003), pp. 220-221.

Bonhams. Featuring the RenLu Collection, 21 Sep 2020, 10:00 EDT, New York.