Page 58 - Chinese Works of Art Bonhams Sept 2015
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A SMALL GILT METAL WEIGHT A GILT-BRONZE SEAL
Song to Ming dynasty Song to Ming dynasty
Naturalistically cast in the form of a pair of frogs, one seated upon the Cast as a stylized dragon, the body arranged in a coiling circle, the
back of the other, with hammered and incised designs suggesting beast holding its tail in its jaws, the tail end spiraling further into
different skin patterns, each frog displaying eye sockets inset with the center of the circle to meet the dragon’s scrolling legs, one
semi-precious stones. side applied with a small ring for suspension, the dragon’s body
1 3/4in (4.6cm) high supported by small, square seal block cast with an inscription
$5,000 - 7,000 reading Shi Wang (石王).
2 3/8in (5.5cm) high
宋至明 鎏金銅蛙形紙鎮 $5,000 - 7,000
Provenance 宋至明 鎏金銅龍鈕印章
Walter Randel, New York, circa 2002
Seals of this form appear to be rare. Dragons of a similar style are very
commonly observed in the handles of archaistic bronze vases dated to
the Song-Ming period.
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