A SMALL TURQUOISE-INLAID GOLD APPLIQUE HAN DYNASTY

cut out of thin gold sheet and finely embellished with granular work depicting an immortal sitting astride a ferocious beast against a plain gold background, the eye of the beast inlaid with turquoise, 3.3cm., 1 3/8 in. WEIGHT 2g., together with a small openwork gold plaque similarly decorated with a central figure framed by the four directional creatures in a square frame, late Eastern Han Dynasty; a small openwork plaque with granulation depicting an immortal riding on a winged dragon surrounded by scrolls, late Eastern Han Dynasty; an openwork gold plaque with a series of symmetrical scrolls and volutes suggesting a cicada with remains of silver and turquoise inlays, late Eastern Han Dynasty/Six Dynasties Period, all in individual glass frames

Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 1954-55, cat. no. 20.

Chinese Gold, Silver and Porcelain. The Kempe Collection, Asia House Gallery, New York, 1971, cat. no. 10, an exhibition touring the United States and shown also at nine other museums.

Bo Gyllensvärd, Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, Stockholm, 1953, pl. 20.

Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, The Museum of Art and Far Eastern Antiquities in Ulricehamn, Ulricehamn, 1999, pl. 20.

Figure atride tiger: Surface cleaned, mounted in domed box, a few scattered minor losses to granulation, slight flattening to a few granules. Pierced figure astride beast: Flattening and crimping to relief, losses to granulation, break to left side with fragment present, roughness and possible losses to edges, traces of reddish material. Pierced square plaque: Possible slight losses to granulation, scattered traces of light corosion/encrustation, small break to upper left vertical edge, slight crimping, slight roughness to right 'hand' of central figure. Insect plaque - losses to applied frame, most inlaid stones lost, central hole to plaque with attendant damage, malachite and dirt encrustation to base tiger. All not examined out of mounts/frames
"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."

For two closely related pieces attributed to the Jin dynasty and decorated with mirror images of immortals riding on a beast and rendered in fine granulations set within cloisons, see Simon Kwan and Sun Ji, Chinese Gold Ornaments, Hong Kong, 2003, pl. 151; they are believed to have been part of more elaborate hat or garment ornaments composed of one or more small appliques which may have included similar pieces to the other three in this present lot. Compare ibid., pls. 141-150.

 

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