Archaic Bronze

Lot 5047. An archaic bronze dagger-axe, Ge, Late Shang dynasty; 27.2 cm, 10 5/8  in. Estimate 100,000 — 150,000 HKD. Sold for 162,500 HKD (19,227 EUR). Courtesy Sotheby's. the blade cast with a subtle median ridge with hafting holes on the hilt and blade, the hilt in the form of a bird's head with the beak forming the curved edge, cast with channels intended for inlay, encrusted with a green patina with some speckles of brown cuprite. Provenance: Collection of... [Lire la suite]

Coming from a small city in Italy, the extraordinary journey of Franco Marinotti (1891-1966) began in a textile company near Milan (the Filatura Cascami Seta) at the beginning of the 20th century, where he made his way up to the prominent position of managing the Warsaw and Moscow branches. This enriching experience and strong commercial relationships developed in Russia allowed him to launch his own company in 1921, the CICE - Compagnia Industriale Commercio Estero, and have continuous business... [Lire la suite]

Lot 466. An archaic bronze incense burner and cover, boshanlu, Han dynasty; 29.8cm high. Estimate HK$40,000 - 60,000. Sold for HK$ 550,000 (€ 65,559). Courtesy Bonhams The figure wearing simple loose garments, cast with both hands planted at the waist and standing above a recessed circular platform, surrounded by four chi dragons depicted in muscular bodywork, elongated tail and twisted heads, its face framed with prominent beard and head supporting a large semi-spherical cup further surmounted by a pierced cover,... [Lire la suite]

Lot 466. An archaic bronze wine vessel and cover, zhi, Western Zhou dynasty; 20.5cm high. Estimate HK$250,000 - 350,000. Sold for HK$ 562,500 (€ 67,049). Courtesy Bonhams Slightly compressed and rising from an oval recessed foot, the wide body with waisted neck ending in a flared rim, decorated with bands of geometric borders with upward archaistic leaf lappets at the neck, flanked at the sides with a pair of narrow vertical looped handles, the domed cover further decorated with archaistic motifs ending in a... [Lire la suite]

Lot 466. An archaic bronze ‘duck’ beaker, jia, Eastern Zhou dynasty; 15cm high. Estimate HK$60,000 - 80,000. Sold for HK$ 587,500 (€ 70,029). Courtesy Bonhams Cast in the form of an duck, the bird standing on two webbed feet and a cylindrical stand, the elongated neck curving upwards with a prominent beak, all ending in a fan-shaped tail. Note: See an almost identical excavated example dating to the Spring and Autumn period, unearthed in Jiangsu province in 1982, in the Zheiang Museum, Jiangsu province,... [Lire la suite]

Lot 466. A fine and rare archaic bronze ritual ewer and cover, he, Eastern Zhou dynasty; 25.6cm high. Estimate HK$450,000 - 650,000. Sold for HK$ 600,000 (€ 71,519). Courtesy Bonhams Cast on three straight feet flattened at the ends and issuing from raised animal head finials, the vessel of a compressed globular form with two raised horizontal ribs featuring three bands of frieze decorated with archaistic scrolls and kui dragons in relief, one side showing a slender 'S'-shaped mythical beast spout, the shoulders... [Lire la suite]

Lot 563. An extremely rare archaic bronze oil lamp, Han dynasty; 26cm high. Estimate HK$60,000 - 80,000. Sold for HK$ 562,500 (€ 67,049). Courtesy Bonhams. Cast in the form of a male figure adorned in long tunic, standing assertively on the back of a crouching tiger with left leg on the back and right on its head, his right hand holding a long tubular post supporting a circular bowl with central spike, the subdued tiger depicted with intricately defined stylised scrolls on its body, depicted crouching four square on a... [Lire la suite]

Lot 543. An archaic bronze ‘mythical beast’ paperweight, Eastern Han dynasty; 6.2cm wide. Estimate HK$80,000 - 120,000. Sold for HK$ 937,500 (€ 111,749). Courtesy Bonhams. Realistically cast in the form of a chi dragon, raised on four strong limbs ending in powerful talons, the body with ribbed torso and twisted with elongated neck, the head turned to the right and framed with a pair of horns, the jaws open revealing sharp teeth, all ending in a bifurcated tail. Bonhams. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of... [Lire la suite]

Lot 543. A rare archaic bronze ‘gourd’ vase and cover, hu, Eastern Zhou dynasty; 29.5cm high. Estimate HK$60,000 - 80,000. Sold for HK$ 625,000 (€ 74,499). Courtesy Bonhams. The bulbous flask-shaped body supported on a simulated rope-twist foot, rising to a straight neck offset on one side of the shoulder, intricately cast with three wide bands of dense interlocking abstract motifs on the lower body and an additional band at the neck, cast on one side with a convex bar handle decorated with keyfret scrolls, attached... [Lire la suite]

Lot 543. An archaic bronze boar, Han dynasty; 14.5cm long. Estimate HK$30,000 - 60,000. Sold for HK$ 687,500 (€ 81,949). Courtesy Bonhams. Cast in the form of a wild boar standing on all fours, the bulging belly ending with a coiled tail, the face with defined protruding nostrils between two small tusks, further flanked by a pair of large eyes and ears, the underside of the belly cast with a pierced rectangular aperture. Bonhams. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, 24 November 2013 ... [Lire la suite]