Han Dynasty Gilt Bronze Coiled Chilong Dragon Paperweight,2nd Century BCE - 2nd Century CE Han Dynasty

拍品描述

Measurements:Overall height 7.2 cm / 2.83 inches, width 6 cm / 2.36 inches, weight 2344 grams, Han Dynasty, Category: Bronze Ware, Primary trading market: CaliforniaCondition & Provenance:This entire gilt bronze dragon weight is fully intact with zero missing sections. The round plinth base is cast as a single piece, no breaks, adhesive repair or splicing anywhere. The three-dimensional molded chilong dragon form is fully preserved, with undamaged dragon head, horns, scale carvings and coiled tail, no chipped or missing sculpted details. The thick gilded gold layer survives across most of the surface; raised dragon features retain full, dense gold plating, while recessed crevices carry natural, firmly embedded ancient red and green bronze patina, no artificial chemical rust treatments. Only minor natural wear on raised high points has worn away small sections of gold to reveal the bronze base metal, purely natural aging from thousands of years of circulation. The flat bottom base holds thick, layered original burial soil encrustation with natural earth discoloration, no sanding or altered base work. There are no penetrating cracks, hidden damages, post gild touch-ups or restoration repairs, all original casting textures remain untouched. This artifact was first acquired by an Asian antique gallery in San Francisco, California in 2012, then transferred in 2019 to a private collector specializing in ancient Chinese bronze antiques based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It has been stored long-term inside a climate-controlled sealed storage unit with stable temperature and humidity, never cleaned, re-gilded or altered by any human intervention, fully retaining its original unearthed patina and natural rust layers.Object Description:This artifact is a gilt bronze coiled chilong dragon desk paperweight dating to the Han Dynasty, a heavy stationery piece exclusive to Han noble scholars, extremely scarce on today’s antique market. Complete ancient gilt bronze pieces with thick original gold plating like this one are incredibly rare collectibles. The piece was cast entirely in one pour using the lost-wax casting technique. It features a uniform wide circular base that sits steadily on writing desks. The top is sculpted with a three-dimensional coiled mythical chilong dragon; its head rises upward with an open mouth showing sharp teeth, round prominent eyes, and elegantly stretched ear fin details. The dragon’s entire body is covered in finely carved embossed scale armor with crisp, distinct layered textures, and its tail curls inward with powerful dynamic movement. The sculpting style carries the bold, primitive grand aesthetic iconic of Han Dynasty art. The whole bronze body is fully covered with thick, compact gold gilding that emits soft, restrained metallic luster. After more than two thousand years, natural multi-toned red-green patina and burial soil encrustation have formed, blending organically with the gilded surface for deeply layered antique visual character. Weighing 2344 grams, the piece delivers substantial heft perfectly suited for pressing flat calligraphy paper, its core functional purpose as a desk weight. Gilt bronze wares during the Han Dynasty were reserved exclusively for imperial courts and noble lords. The chilong dragon motif symbolizes imperial power and auspicious fortune. This piece merges functional scholar stationery use, elite Han Dynasty bronze casting craftsmanship, premium gold gilding metalwork, and profound Han ceremonial cultural meaning. It stands as a top-tier sought-after core collectible among international ancient bronze collectors, with equal value for display and museum-grade collection.

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