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A SELECTION OF BRONZE FITTINGS A PAIR OF GILT BRONZE TAOTIE MASK AN ORDOS STYLE GILT-BRONZE
Zhou Dynasty and later AND LOOSE RING HANDLES RECTANGULAR ‘BEAR’ PLAQUE
Comprising: a pair of mythical beast head Han Dynasty Western Han
fittings, each with arched necks, decorated Each cast with protruding eyes and nose Cast in relief with a stylised crouching bear,
with scrollwork motifs and terminating in beneath sweeping eye brows, small pointed resting on its front paws, tucked beneath the
rectangular loops, fitted stand; a pair of hollow ears and curving tufts of mane, twin horns body, within a rope-twist border, the reverse
metal harness fittings modelled as curved flanking a central pointed crest, a hook with a raised rectangular loop and twin
mules fitted with trappings, fitted wood stand; issuing from the broad, slightly open mouth, bosses, fitted perspex stand.
a bronze bird form fitting, modelled with suspending a loose ring. 5.5cm x 4cm (2.1/8in) x (1.5/8in)
raised wings and fan tail, wood stand; and a 6.5cm (2.5/8in) long. (4).
small bronze stylised bird plaque. £1,000 - 1,500
The largest 5cm (2in) long. (6). £2,000 - 3,000 CNY9,200 - 14,000
CNY18,000 - 28,000 HK$11,000 - 16,000
£1,500 - 2,000 HK$22,000 - 33,000
CNY14,000 - 18,000 Provenance
HK$16,000 - 22,000 Provenance Sotheby’s London, 1 April, 1974, Lot 74.
Sotheby’s London, 12 December 1989. Collection of David David-Weill, Inventory
Provenance number to reverse D.W 3092.
Pair beast head fittings: Purchased Bluett &
Sons Ltd. 23 September 1975. Plaques of related design with rope twist
border motifs were found in the tomb of
Pair mule form fittings: Purchased Bluett & the Western Han king of Nanyue. Gold belt
Sons Ltd. 11 October 1976. plaques of rectangular form with animal
C.T. Loo & Co. Paris (label to fitted stand) motifs originated among the nomadic tribes
of Central Asia. The motifs of these plaques
Bird form fitting: Purchased Bluett & Sons Ltd. were usually animals, either mythical or
16 February 1981. naturalistic.
Inventory number B.198 (label).
Zhou bird plaque: Purchased Bluett & Sons
Ltd. 2 June 1982.
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