A CIRCULAR BRONZE-BACKED GOLD-FOIL FITTING WARRING STATES PERIOD

the thin gold foil decorated with a design of interlinked bands of finely striated raised ropes arranged around a central whirl motif, fixed to a round, slighly convex bronze backing, the reverse with heavy malachite encrustation

Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 1954-55, cat. no. 7.

Bo Gyllensvärd, Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, Stockholm, 1953, pl. 7.

Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, The Museum of Art and Far Eastern Antiquities in Ulricehamn, Ulricehamn, 1999, pl. 7.

A crescent-shaped part of the fitting (ca. 7cm) broken off in the past and re-attached of old. Some minor areas of the gold sheet raised and with malachite encrustation.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Slighlty larger examples of such bronze-backed gold-foil fittings are in the collection of Dr. Paul Singer, illustrated in Paul Singer, Early Chinese Gold and Silver, China Institute, New York, 1972, pl. 6; compare also a similar bronze-backed fitting sold in our New York rooms, 4^th June 1986, lot 257.