Lot 862. A small gold-inlaid bronze garment hook, Eastern Han dynasty, 2nd-3rd century BC; 2 3/8 in. (6 cm.) long. Estimate USD 2,500 - USD 4,000. Price realised USD 2,125. © Christie's Images Ltd 2010.

One end with semi-circular outer section and faceted inner section inlaid in gold with scrolls, with a circular button on the underside, the faceted shaft and hook with angular scrolls, box.

Provenance: Acquired in Kyoto, 1994.

Exhibited: The Glorious Traditions of Chinese Bronzes, Singapore, 2000, no. 82.
Metal, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth, Hong Kong Museum of Art, 2002-2006. 

Note: Two small gold-inlaid garment hooks of this shape, and with similar decoration, are illustrated by T. Lawton, Chinese Art of the Warring States Period, Freer Gallery of Art, 1982, nos. 61 and 62 (4.5 and 6.4 cm. long), where others of comparable size and shape unearthed at Erligang Zhengzhou, Henan province, are mentioned. 

Christie's. The Sze Yuan Tang Archaic Bronzes from the Anthony Hardy Collection, New York, 16 September 2010