Page 24 - Later Chinese Bronzes from the Collection of Ulrich-Hk 2014

Iron is a material which evokes strong associations in the minds of the scholarly elite, aware of the fact that early
Chinese mastery of casting iron agricultural tools brought about a great leap in productivity for the Chinese
empire. The very fine and lively archaistic design shows the finesse reminiscent of silk textiles. The golden archaistic
design is deliberately partially obscured to simulate an ancient excavated piece, greatly adding to the aura of the
object.

For another rare damascened iron object, see an iron damascened ruyi sceptre, made by Zhang Aochun and dated
1622, from the collection of Walter Sedgwick, London, illustrated in Jenyns and Watson, Chinese Art. The Minor Arts,
vol. 2, London, 1965, cat. no. 70, and subsequently in the Water, Pine and Stone Retreat Collection, sold in these
rooms, 8th April 2014, lot 215. See also a Ming dynasty iron scroll weight from the Mary and George Bloch collection,
sold in these rooms, 23rd October 2005, lot 3, and again from the Water, Pine and Stone Retreat Collection, 8th April
2013, lot 140.