Lot 335. A gold 'dragon' bracelet, shouzhuo, Qing dynasty; Outer diameter: 3 1/8in (7.9cm), Inner diameter: 2 5/8in (6.7cm). Sold for US$ 8,200 (€ 6,984). © Bonhams 2001-2020

The hollowed bracelet designed with two confronting dragons, the inner side of the shank left plain, and stamped with a maker's cartouche, reading 'Deyuan', the exterior with meticulously chased details depicting the scaly body of the creature undulating through clouds, each dragon head with a wide open mouth, revealing its teeth and tongue, its mane rendered in densely incised lines.

Note : Yang Zhishui cites in Zhongguo Gudai Jinyin Shoushi（Beijing: Gugong, 2014） that bracelets with dragon head ends can trace their origin to the Yuan dynasty, saw development through the Ming dynasty, and provided inspiration to later bracelets in the Qing dynasty (vol. 2, p.635).

Compare similar examples illustrated in Collection of Beijing Palace Museum (Beijing, 1992), pl. 263, and in Celestial Creations, Art of the Chinese Goldsmith, The Cheng Xun Tang Collection (Art Museum, The Institute of Chinese Studies, The Chinese University Hong Kong 2007), Part II, pp. 628–629, no. H65.

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