gold and silver-inlaid bronze

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... [Lire la suite]

Lot 117. A very rare gold and silver-inlaid bronze tapir-shaped vessel, xizun, Song-Ming Dynasty (960-1644); 18.5cm (7 1/2in) long. Sold for £65,820 (Estimate £30,000-£50,000). © Bonhams 2001-2022 The stocky, tapir-like mythical beast heavily cast standing foursquare with head facing forward, ears pricked and tail pointed downwards, the body inlaid in silver and gold with geometric scrolls, the head cast in relief with curved brows and a collar encircling the neck, the hollow body fitted with a... [Lire la suite]

Lot 102. A very rare gold and silver-inlaid bronze tapir-shaped vessel, xizun, Yuan-Ming Dynasty (1271-1644); 17cm (6 11/18in) long. Sold for £38,100 (Estimate  £30,000-50,000). © Bonhams 2001-2022 Finely cast after the archaic bronze wine vessel zun in the form of a tapir, the beast standing foursquare with head facing forward with an upturned snout, cast in relief with bulging gold-inlaid eyes below curved brows, the face and pricked ears further decorated with archaistic motifs... [Lire la suite]

The Personal Collection of the late Sir Joseph Hotung. Lot 4. An embellished gold and silver-inlaid bronze 'tiger' garment hook, Eastern Zhou dynasty (771-256 BCE); 11.1 cm. Lot sold: 756,000 HKD (Estimate: 800,000 - 1,200,000 HKD). © Sotheby's 2022 the hook modelled with an elaborate tiger head on one end, accentuated by a pair of alert eyes with black glass or frit framed by silver-inlaid S-shaped eyebrows, above a turquoise-studded muzzle, detailed with silvery... [Lire la suite]

  Lot 5080. A gold and silver-inlaid bronze mirror, Warring States period (475-221 BC); 18.5 cm, with Japanese wood box. Estimate: 20,000 - 30,000 HKD. Lot sold: 17,640 HKD. Courtesy Sotheby's. Provenance: Acquired in Japan in the 1990s, by repute. Sotheby's. Chinese Online, including a Private Hong Kong Collection, Hong Kong, 2 July 2021  

  In 1991 Sydney L. Moss Ltd. published “The Second Bronze Age: Later Chinese Metalwork”, an exhibition catalogue whose time we felt had come. We had managed to gather together a coherent group for a focused show, including its fair share of star works. It was quite a successful foray. At that time we had recently experienced London dealer Michael Goedhuis’ 1989 show of Chinese and Japanese bronzes, and Rose Kerr’s 1990 book for the Victoria & Albert Museum, “Later Chinese Bronzes”. Discussions about metalwork hung... [Lire la suite]

  Lot 10. A rare bronze tripod pouring vessel and a cover, Xiaoliuding, Late Western Zhou dynasty, 8th - 7th century B.C.; 4 7/8 in. (12.4cm.) wide across handles. Estimate GBP 250,000 - GBP 350,000. Price realised GBP 325,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2020.  The pouring vessel is cast with rounded sides supported by three cabriole legs. The body is decorated in flat relief with frieze scales in two horizontal bands, all below a border of... [Lire la suite]

Lot 466. An archaic gold and silver-inlaid bronze ‘mythical animal’ ferrule, Eastern Zhou dynasty; 11.5cm high. Estimate HK$150,000 - 200,000. Sold for HK$ 525,000 (€ 62,385). Courtesy Bonhams Shaped in the form of a leg of a mythical beast ending in a hoof, the exterior inlaid with silver and gold linings in geometric and swirling patterns, sectioned by three plain horizontal frieze at the base, waist and neck, the waist further flanked by a pair of ruyi-head finials. Note: For a comparative example, see Jessica... [Lire la suite]

Lot 61. An archaistic gold and silver-inlaid bronze vessel, hu, 18th century; 17cm (6 6/8in) high. Estimate £ 5,000-8,000. Sold for £ 6,250 (€ 7,152). Courtesy Bonhams.  The pear-shaped body rising from a low splayed foot, decorated on both sides with a taotie mask, the waisted neck with a band of stylised gui dragons divided by four vertical flanges, below eight upright cicada lappets enclosing scrolling motifs, the base with a diamond grid pattern. Bonhams. FINE CHINESE ART, London, 12... [Lire la suite]

Lot 2040. A pair of gold and silver-inlaid bronze fittings, Late Warring States Period/Han dynasty, 3rd century BC-1st century AD; 5½ in. (9 cm.) high. Estimate USD 4,000 - USD 6,000. Price Realized USD 27,500. © Christie's Images Ltd 2014.  Each is of hexagonal form, and is inlaid in gold and silver sheet with a broad chevron band between gold interlaced scrolls on the spreading, hollow end and the baluster end, which is decorated on the flat top with a starburst motif, lucite... [Lire la suite]