Page 22 - Sotheby's Part II Collection of Sir Joeseph Hotung Collection CHINESE ART , Oct. 9, 2022

Bronze garment hooks first appeared in the Spring and Autumn ڡზ੭ནdᏐڋႡ׵݆߇ࣛಂd኷਷Їဏ˾ɽጳf横Ꮦd̙ᖩ໐
period and enjoyed popularity from the end of the Warring States to ੭dሤ͜d֝׵ᘔيdۧΞ͗भeɣ࠯ഃf̴ࡁணࠇ̷Ѷeༀུ
the Han dynasty. They could be worn horizontally to fasten a belt or ശᘆdһϞలᘒ٫d࿎ᜑي˴ৌబאᛆɢf
vertically to suspend other accessories such as pendants and daggers.
Their outstanding quality, sometimes further enhanced by precious Ϥ੭ནᖕ࠯ˢԷ၂ɽdၚᇘᜳਗdϾ˲ۜ޴ˈԳd༐ᗭ੻ʘۜf
materials, underscores the status of their owners, highlighting their Ν˾ᖕҖ੭ནd՟ҿІε၇ਗيdν˥௢eଛډeୂᎲdҖՓ
wealth or power. The present garment hook is remarkable for its ᒱମd΢బ̷ܠfϤ੭ནהུdᏐ᙮፟߅dאډfਞϽɧԷd
impressive large head and the well-preserved condition of its inlays. Ν݊፟߅ʘ᙮d್᎘ɪɧԉ੭ືdѕ௅༰೵jࡐ౱ɽߵ௹ي᎜
ᔛ⺗ږზ੭ནdೌలᘒdᔛۜᇜ໮1936,1118.127dϗɝᖯಌd
Elaborate bronze hooks of this period were inspired by a huge variety Ancient China: Art and Archaeology‘dࡐ౱d1980ϋd੹
of animals, from amiable birds and ferocious felines to mythical ྡو X ̛iॲߒɽேึᖵஔ௹ي᎜ᔛ̤ɓ⺗ږზԷdΝᅵೌల
dragons, many of which appear to be individually conceived. ᘒdEugene V. Thaw ͸ᙨ࣏ᗍdᔛۜᇜ໮2002.201.169iശସ
Compare three other feline examples, but with ribbed horns and ཭̦੗ಌ̵ኪึᒄдਔߕஔ᎜ɰϞɓڡზԷdలबᆨमdᔛۜᇜ
shorter muzzles: a gilt-bronze hook once decorated with inlays, in ໮S2012.9.2340f
the British Museum, London, accession no. 1936,1118.127, published in
Jessica Rawson, Ancient China: Art and Archaeology, London, 1980, ᒱϞՉ˼లᘒਗيҖ੭ནdШሞၚᇘ೻ܓdᗭర˼ԷfϞɓ⺗ږ
col. pl. X rightmost; another gilt-bronze hook, also without inlays, in ზలၠؒͩʿबᆨम੭ནd2006ϋ9˜19˚຾ॲߒԳɻ੻ש̈d
the Metropolitan Museum of Art, gifted by Mr and Mrs Eugene V. ᇜ໮156fᒄдਔߕஔ᎜ᒔϞɓڡზ੭ནdהల႔໰଻बᆨमၾ
Thaw, accession no. 2002.201.169; and a bronze glass-inlaid one in ϤΝόdᔛۜᇜ໮S2012.9.1822f
the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Washington,
DC, accession no. S2012.9.2340. ϋ˾޴߰ٙᖕҖᒐུၾ੭ནϞʔˇ΍ஷᓃdν౶ϖдഺतᔚᔛ፹
ږვུdΝቱ፟߅ᖕ࠯d್Չ᎕ධᛃϜֹܓ༰ɽdᏐɗᒐུdྡ
Although other known inlaid animal-form garment hooks exist, it is ༱׵ Georges A. Salles ʿ Daisy Lion-GoldschmidtdCollection
rare to find examples with precious inlays of comparable quality. A Adolphe Stoclet‘d̺ኁᒄဧd1956ϋdࠫ345af
similar turquoise and glass embellished gilt-bronze hook was sold
at Christie's New York, 19th September 2006, lot 156. See also a
bronze garment hook inlaid with an identical glass bead with multiple
'eyes' in the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, accession no. S2012.9.1822.

Zoomorphic chariot yoke fittings of this period share many features
with this type of garment hooks. A closely related gold- and silver-
inlaid ornament, modelled as a feline head but with a more arced
neck indicating its likely function as a chariot fitting, formerly in the
collection of Adolphe Stoclet, is published in Georges A. Salles
and Daisy Lion-Goldschmidt, Collection Adolphe Stoclet, Brussels,
1956, p. 345a.

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