Lot 308. An inlaid gilt-bronze garment hook, Warring States-Western Han dynasty; 8 3/8in (21.3cm) long. Estimate US$ 20,000 - 30,000 (€ 17,000 - 25,000). © Bonhams 2001-2020

Imaginatively cast on the crest with a mythical winged bixie, its long tail and open mouth joined to a curved shaft finely inlaid with silver and turquoise and terminating in gilt bronze hooks, one end in the form of a fantastic bear, the precocious animal standing on hind legs in a dynamic pose with front paws resting on powerful thighs and mouth agape, the opposing hook modeled as a dragon head with ears laid back flanking deep-set eyes, the whole with patches of green encrustation and supported by a knop for attachment.

Note: There are two turquoise inlaid belt hooks of thin elongated shape published in Julia White et al Adornment for the Body and Soul: Ancient Chinese Ornaments from the Mengdiexuan Collection (Hong Kong: The Univ. Museum and Art Gallery, 1999, pp. 109 and 111; the former dated to the Warring States period and the latter as Han.

See the gold harness fitting with a bear design published in Simon Kwan and Sun Ji Zhongguo Gudai Jinshi [Chinese Gold Ornaments] (Hong Kong: Muwen Tang Meishu Chubanshe, 2003), pp. 232-233. Sun there notes that this artifact is likely related to recent archaeological finds excavated from the area of the modern city of Guangzhou.

Bonhams. Featuring the RenLu Collection, 21 Sep 2020, 10:00 EDT, New York