Lot 3005. A pair of bronze 'chimera' weights, Han dynasty (206 BC-220 AD); d. 7.8 cm. Lot sold: 378,000 HKD (Estimate: 300,000 - 400,000 HKD). © 2023 Sotheby's.
with an iridescent sheen to the metal surface.
Provenance: Acquired in Japan, 1990s, by repute.
Note: The present weights are cast in the form of a chimaera, generally known as bixie (literally 'to avert evil spirits'), standing on a mountainous rock base. For related weights, see an Eastern Han example exhibited in Eskenazi, Animals and Animal Designs in Chinese Art, New York, 1998, cat. no. 12; and three examples from the Feng Wen Tang collection, attributed to the Spring and Autumn period, sold at Guardian Hong Kong, 6th October 2015, lots 97 and 112. See also a related Eastern Han bixie weight, without the mountain base, sold at Bonhams Hong Kong, 24th November 2013, lot 529.
Bronze animals that exist from this time generally had a functional purpose, being cast as weights, fittings, tallies, belt hooks or supports. Such bronzes were most probably used in daily life, even if some were eventually buried with important personalities. For various suggestions as to the use and line drawings of bronze weights, see Sun Ji, 'Han zhen yishu', Wenwu, vol. 6, 1983, pp. 69-72
Lot 3010. A set of three glass-inlaid gilt-bronze 'bear' supports, Han dynasty (206 BC-220 AD); 3.8 cm. Lot sold: 88,200 HKD (Estimate: 30,000 - 50,000 HKD). © 2023 Sotheby's.
with an iridescent sheen to the metal surface.
Provenance: Collection of the estate of Robert P. Youngman, New York (1940-2018).
Ben Janssens Oriental Art, London, 2021 (GBP 12,000).
Note: Animal-form supports of this type were made to serve as supports for vessels such as lian, zun or pan; for example, see two Han dynasty gilt-bronze vessels with crouching bear feet, one preserved in the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, accession no. S1987.341a-b, the other preserved in the Bejing Palace Museum.
Lot 3028. A gilt-bronze oil lamp, Western Han dynasty (206 BC-9 AD); 11 cm. Lot sold: 189,000 HKD (Estimate: 10,000 - 15,000 HKD). © 2023 Sotheby's.
Provenance: Collection of C. Roger Moss, O.B.E. (1936-2020), former president of the Oriental Ceramic Society of Hong Kong from 2000-02.
Exhibited: Hong Kong Club, on display between 2003-2020.
Lot 3029. A gold and silver-inlaid bronze cylindrical box and cover, Han dynasty (206 BC-220 AD); 11 cm. Lot sold: 63,000 HKD (Estimate: 10,000 - 15,000 HKD). © 2023 Sotheby's.
Provenance: Mandala Fine Arts, Hong Kong, 2000s.
Lot 3032. A bronze 'warrior' mat weight, Western Han dynasty (206 BC-9 AD); h. 13.5 cm. Lot sold: 126,000 HKD (Estimate: 50,000 - 70,000 HKD). © 2023 Sotheby's.
Provenance: Collection of Alan and Simone Hartman, New York, early 2000s, by repute.
Lot 3035. Two gilt and silvered bronze boxes and covers, Han dynasty (206 BC-220 AD); 7.3 cm. Lot sold: 63,000HKD (Estimate: 10,000 - 15,000 HKD). © 2023 Sotheby's.
Provenance: Collection of C. Roger Moss, O.B.E. (1936-2020), former president of the Oriental Ceramic Society of Hong Kong from 2000-02.
Lot 3044. A set of four bronze 'tortoise' weights, Han dynasty (206 BC-220 AD); 6 cm. Lot sold: 504,000 HKD (Estimate: 10,000 - 15,000 HKD). © 2023 Sotheby's.
Provenance: Acquired in Taiwan, 2000s, by repute.
Lot 3057. A set of bronze brazier and cup, Eastern Han dynasty (25-220); w. 24.5 cm. Lot sold: 56,700 HKD (Estimate: 10,000 - 15,000 HKD). © 2023 Sotheby's.
Note: See a similar set sold at Bonhams San Francisco, 24th June 2013, lot 1127.
Lot 3058. An archaic bronze openwork incense burner, Eastern Han dynasty (25-220); l. 16.1 cm. Lot sold: 40,320 HKD (Estimate: 10,000 - 15,000 HKD). © 2023 Sotheby's.
Provenance: Acquired in Taiwan, 2000s, by repute.
Lot 3060. Two large bronze vessels, Han dynasty (206 BC-220 AD); 32 and 35.8 cm. Lot sold: 15,120 HKD (Estimate: 10,000 - 15,000 HKD). © 2023 Sotheby's.
the 'fish' basin cast to the interior with a three-character inscription reading Yi Hou Wang, with 1 x-ray.
Sotheby's. Chinese Art Online: A Private Asian Collection, Hong Kong, 19 January 2023
