A RARE JADE-INSET AND TURQUOISE-INLAID BRONZE BELT HOOK, WARRING STATES PERIOD-WESTERN HAN DYNASTY

拍品描述

A RARE JADE-INSET AND TURQUOISE-INLAID BRONZE BELT HOOK, WARRING STATES PERIOD-WESTERN HAN DYNASTY Expert’s note Bronze garment hooks from the Warring States and early Han periods are well known for their refined metalworking and occasional decorative inlays, most commonly in silver or gold. Examples combining multiple inlay materials like the present lot are rare and represent the highest level of technical sophistication achieved by early Chinese metalworkers. The successful integration of these contrasting materials required precise control of casting and inlay techniques, reflecting the advanced craftsmanship of the period and the elite status of such objects, which were worn as prestigious personal ornaments by members of the aristocracy. China, 475 BC-9 AD. Masterfully cast, the slender, gently curved shaft inlaid with a light brownish, partially calcified jade plaque, finely carved in high relief with a dense pattern of tight curls. The upper end terminates in a finely modeled hook in the form of a dragon head, its elongated neck inlaid with turquoise and silver wire to evoke the scaly texture of its skin. The reverse is set with a raised circular button. Dimensions: Length 14.7 cm The adoption of cavalry and the dress style of the nomadic tribes prompted in China the creation of many accessories closely related to the new outfit, such as belt hooks and buckles, fittings for iron swords, horse trappings, and archery-related accessories. Besides their utilitarian function, these accessories also communicated the high status of their owners. Jades had been worn as personal ornaments throughout most of the Bronze Age, and it seems natural that they would be combined with bronze and turquoise to create utilitarian but exceedingly sumptuous items of personal dress. Literature comparison: Compare a related jade- and turquoise-inlaid gilt-bronze belt hook, dated Warring States period to Western Han dynasty, 18.7 cm long, in the Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, object number B65B14. Compare a related jade- and turquoise-inlaid gilt-bronze belt hook, dated Warring States period, 16.5 cm long, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, object number 1974.268.1. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Bonhams Hong Kong, 24 November 2013, lot 512 Mid-estimate: HKD 200,000 or approx. EUR 30,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the related form, stone-inlaid decoration, and manner of casting of the larger belt hook. Note the similar size (17.1 cm), gilding, and that the lot further comprises a smaller belt hook.

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