Lot 24. A silver garment-hook, Warring States Period (475-221 BC), 12.6cm., 5in. Estimate 3,000 — 4,000 GBP. Lot sold 5,250 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's

the curved, semi-circular shaft ending in a dragon's head hook and decorated with an overall design of finely chased and engraved volutes and triangles alternating with bands and scales with ring-punched details. Weight 128gr.

Exhibited: Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 1954-55, cat. no. 78.

Literature: Bo Gyllensvärd, Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, Stockholm, 1953, pl. 78.

Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, The Museum of Art and Far Eastern Antiquities in Ulricehamn, Ulricehamn, 1999, pl. 81.

Sotheby's. Masterpieces of Chinese Precious Metalwork, Early Gold and Silver; Early Chinese White, Green and Black Wares, London, 14 May 2008