Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Chinese: Metalwork (31)

Ancient censer, of circular shape, resting on three feet, decorated on all sides with dragons in relief "chasing the pearl" and, on two sides, with dragon heads. Bronze, fine green patina. Reign mark beneath, probably apocryphal (Ming Dynasty, Xuande reign). China, early 19th century. Height: 3 1/4" (8,5 cm). Diameter: 5 4/8" (14,5 cm). Very good condition.

Old Incense burner of circular shape resting on three feet, decorated on all sides with dragons in relief. The two handles are in the shape of agressive dragons. Bronze, with green patina in the recesses. Reign mark beneath, probably apocryphal (Ming Dynasty, Xuande reign). China, 19th century. Height: 3 3/8" (8,7 cm). Diameter: 5 7/8" (15 cm). Very good condition.

Carriage bell of globular shape with a loop on top for attachment. Gilt bronze, with encrusted green and blue (malachite) patina. China, Han Dynasty Period (206 BC-220 AD). Height: 3 1/8" (8 cm). The bell is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand. Old accident, otherwise good condition.

Death mask, made from a thin bronze sheet subtly formed as a man's broad face, chased with eyes, a nose, mouth and rounded cheeks, as well as a mustache. Tiny attachment hole on each side of the top (one missing). Fine slightly encrusted green, blue and red patina. China, Liao Dynasty (907-1125). Height: 18,5 cm. The mask is nicely mounted on a custom stand. A few small areas missing, tiny hole on the nose, otherwise good condition...

Small pendant in the shape of a standing horse, with a loop on top of its back for attachement to a necklace. Bronze, green patina in the recesses. China, Ordos Civilization, Ca. 2nd century. Height: 3.7 cm. Length: 4.5 cm. Nicely mounted on a custom plexi stand. Very good condition.

Belt hook made of bronze, with fine geometric design in relief at the base and on the stem. Button at the back for attachment to a belt. Green and red encrusted patina. China, Warring States period (-475/-221). Height: 5.6 cm. Very good condition.

Small seal of square base, with a snarling tiger on its top. Bronze, with partly encrusted reddish-green patina. China, Ming Dynasty or earlier. Height: 2.9 cm. Very good condition.

Small seal cast in the shape of a tortoise standing on a square base. Archaic characters beneath. Bronze, with fine green patina. China, Ming Dynasty or earlier. Height: 2 cm. Width: 2.6 cm. Very good condition.

Small figurine finely cast in the shape of a human being in a crouching posture, with horn shaped hairdo. Bronze, with reddish-green patina. This particular object appears to be the support of a large bronze base, as shown on a picture of similar objects exhibited at the National Historical Museum in Beijing (cat. Bronzes, NHM, Beijing, 1995, no. 1037, p. 287), which we show on our last photograph. The piece dates back to the Warring States period (475-221 BC). Length: 4.4 cm. Height: 5.2 cm...

A fine pair of gilt bronze appliques, possibly belt or harness fittings, of square shape, with well cast relief decorations of musicians sitting cross-legged and playing the flute and what seems to be a lute. China, Liao Dynasty (916-1125). Height:3.1 cm. Very good condition.

A fine gilt bronze appliques, possibly belt or harness fittings, of square shape, with well cast relief decoration of a reclining animal. China, Liao Dynasty (916-1125). Height:2.3 cm. Very good condition.

A delicately cast miniature statue of a Buddhist monk, standing on a circular base, holding his robe with both hands. Gilt bronze. China, Tang Dynasty period. Height: 66 mm. The statue is nicely mounted on a custom plexi stand. Very good condition.

Amulet representing a Taoist deity, standing on a small base, wearing robes, with its right leg lifted, holding what seems to be a gourd in its left hand. A loop on its top allowed its attachement to a necklace. Bronze with fine reddish green patina. China, Tang dynasty. Height: 41 mm. Very good condition.

Small statue of a Buddhist devotee/donor, standing, in monk's robes, and holding a fruit in both hands. This statue was probably part of a larger group, with a Buddha statue in the center. Bronze, with fine dark-green patina. China, Ming dynasty. Height: 58 mm. Very good condition.

Finely cast miniature statue of a Lokapala, wearing armor, standing in martial posture on a rock. Gilt bronze, nice patina. China, Tang Dynasty. Height: 5 cm. The statue is mounted on a plexi stand. Very good condition.

Silver alloy opium box, lavishly decorated on all its sides with relief designs representing a nobleman with his servant in a park, flowers, birds (on the lid), and two inscriptions. Partly erased artist mark beneath. China, 19th century. Height: 6.2 cm. Very good condition.

Opium box of rounded rectangular shape, decorated with an embossed design all over its body representing a noble man in front of a house in the company of two women, a floral decor, Chinese characters and a geometric design. The lid itself is decorated with an embossed feminine figure (a dancer) surmounted by a bat. The box is made of copper with a fine age patina. China, end of 19th century. Height: 5.6 cm. Very good condition.

Miniature statue of a Lokapala, in military garb, standing in martial posture on rocks. Gilt bronze, with fine patina. China, Tang Dynasty. Height: 7.1 cm. Abrasion due to age, otherwise very good condition.

Funeral mirror of circular shape decorated with an adorned square at its center, surrounded by symbols, and with a geometric design in relief around its rim. Bronze, with a nice slightly encrusted red and green patina. China, Han Dynasty. Diameter: 8.9 cm. Very good condition. NOTE: this mirror is part of a small collection of funeral mirrors collected many years ago that we are starting to offer presently.

Small funeral mirror, of circular shape, decorated in relief with four frolicking chimeras and grapes. At the back,traces of the imprint of a textile. Bronze, with fine age patina. China, Tang Dynasty. Diameter: 6.8 cm. Very good condition. NOTE: this mirror is part of a small collection of funeral mirrors collected many years ago that we are starting to offer presently.

Small funeral mirror, of circular shape, decorated in relief with two tigers. Traces of the original gilding. Bronze, with fine age patina. China, Jin Dynasty. Diameter: 7.1 cm. Very good condition. NOTE: this mirror is part of a small collection of funeral mirrors collected many years ago that we are starting to offer presently.

Funeral mirror of circular shape decorated around its center with two chimeras facing each other. Bronze, with a nice slightly encrusted red and green patina on some areas. China, Jin Dynasty. Diameter: 8.5 cm. Very good condition. NOTE: this mirror is part of a small collection of funeral mirrors collected many years ago that we are starting to offer presently.

Statue of Duowen Tian Wang, the Heavenly King of the North, elaborately dressed, wearing a diadem, holding the end of a ribbon with his left hand and a Buddhist scepter resting on a lotus in his right hand. The statue is standing on an square pedestal. The piece was originally lacquered, painted and gilt. Part of the lacquering is flaked, revealing the bronze oxydation. The statue was cast in China during the early Qing Dynasty, in the 18th century. Height: 37 cm. Very good condition.

A group of three mat weights. The first one is of circular form, with two tiger heads. Dimensions: H 35 mm, D 50 mm. The second one is oval shaped, looking like a chimera with wings. Dimensions: H 32 mm L 52 mm. The third one is a bird holding a branch in its beak, with an oval base. Dimensions: 34 mm, L 44 mm. All are made of gilt bronze, with a fine patina. Gilding partly missing, otherwise very good condition. Provenance: French provincial auction sale in the early seventies...

Statue of a snarling lion holding a smaller lion under its front paws, resting on a rectangular base. Bronze, with fine dark green patina with reddish areas. China, Ming Dynasty. Length: 6.7 cm. Height: 5.7 cm. Very good condition.

Small figurine representing Kuan Yin, the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy, in formal attire and wearing elaborate diadem and necklaces, flanked by two worshippers, standing on an elevated throne in front of which a lion head is showing in relief. Bronze, with dark reddish-green patina. China, Northern Wei or Sui Dynasty. Height: 2 3/4" (7 cm). Abrasion due to great age, otherwise good condition. An extremely rare object.

A half part of a military tally, finley cast in the form of a crouching tiger. Inside the tally is a protruding character and two round holes. Beneath the tally, nine incised halves of characters.The tally is made of bronze, with remnants of the original gilding and a fine patina. China, Early Ming dynasty or earlier. Height: 4.2 cm. Length: 8.2 cm. Very good condition. NOTE: a tally was used to command troops in ancient China...

A parcel-gilt silver cricket box and its cover. The body of the box is decorated with embossed flowers in cartouches, and its base is pierced with an intricate lattice design. The lid is also decorated with embossed concentric decorations, at the center with flowers in an octogonal frame, and around the rim with large fowers of various forms. China, early 19th cetury, maybe earlier. Diameter: 7.7 cm. Height: 4.4 cm. Very good condition...

Superbly cast bronze belt hook with a finely detailed dragon head at its top with gold and silver eyes, ears and nose, and with gold and silver inlaid geometric designs on the rest of the body. A knob at the back for attachment to a belt. Nice reddish green age patina, partly encrusted. China, Warring States period. Height: 10.5 cm. Very good condition. Provenance: acquired in 1987 from a reputed Paris dealer specialising in Asian antiques. IMPORTANT NOTE: this unique object will be exported ...

Small gilt bronze altar dedicated to Bodhisattva Padmapani, resting on four pillars, showing the Bodhisattva standing, backed by an aureola, holding a gourd in his left hand, his right hand in appeasing/blessing posture (abhaya mudra). Fine patina. China, Northern Wei Dynasty. Height: 8.3 cm. Very good condition.

Old buddhist altar representing Buddha and two bodhisattvas, each one standing on a lotus and backed by a mandorla, the whole group surmounted by the Buddhist Flaming Pearl and resting on a double lotus. Apocryphal reign mark beneath (Emperor Qian Long). Bronze with fine age patina. China, late 19th century. Height: 17 cm. Very good condition.