Lot 12. A bronze and gold harness fitting, Warring States Period (475-221 BC), 4.5cm., 1 3/4 in. Estimate 4,000 — 6,000 GBP. Lot sold 23,300 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's

composed of a thick bronze ring with three solidly cast gold animal heads attached, their raised heads framed by a furled mane and set with short twisting horns and pointed ears above bulging eyes, the curled nostrils flowing to an open mouth. Weight 127g.

Exhibited: Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 1954-55, cat. no. 3.

Chinese Gold, Silver and Porcelain. The Kempe Collection, Asia House Gallery, New York, 1971, cat. no. 2, an exhibition touring the United States and shown also at nine other museums.

Literature: Bo Gyllensvärd, Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, Stockholm, 1953, pl. 3.

Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, The Museum of Art and Far Eastern Antiquities in Ulricehamn, Ulricehamn, 1999, pl. 3

Note: Compare a very similar bronze and gold fitting, illustrated in Simon Kwan and Sun Ji, Chinese Gold Ornaments, Hong Kong, 2003, cat. no. 60. See also Celestial Creations: Art of the Chinese Goldsmith. The Cheng Xun Tang Collection, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 2007, cat. no. A29.

Lot 13. A fine and rare gold finial, Warring States Period (475-221 BC), 3.3cm., 1 1/4 in. Estimate 5,000 — 7,000 GBP. Lot sold 120,500 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's

cast as the head of a feline rising from a tubular finial, short twisting horns emerging from behind scrolled ears, eyes glaring beneath scrolled brows, the large snarling mouth with strong jaws, two narrow bands with scrolls and beaded borders decorating the finial, two holes at the base of the tube for attachment. Weight 23g.

Exhibited: Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 1954-55, cat. no. 4.

Chinese Gold, Silver and Porcelain. The Kempe Collection, Asia House Gallery, New York, 1971, cat. no. 3, an exhibition touring the United States and shown also at nine other museums.

Literature: Bo Gyllensvärd, Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, Stockholm, 1953, pl. 4.

Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, The Museum of Art and Far Eastern Antiquities in Ulricehamn, Ulricehamn, 1999, pl. 4.

Note: A closely related gold feline head finial, from the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Bull, was included in a number of important exhibitions; see Ancient Chinese Bronze and Chinese Jewelry, The Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, 1941, cat. no. 95; Exhibition of Chinese Art, Palazzo Ducale, Venice, 1954, cat. no. 101; and the China Institute in America exhibition Early Chinese Gold and Silver, China House Gallery, New York, 1971, cat. no. 7.

Lot 14. A gold-foil fitting, Warring States Period (475-221 BC), 12cm., 4 3/4 in. long. Estimate 2,000 — 3,000 GBP. Lot sold 2,500 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's

cut from paper-thin gold sheet and beaten in the shape of an animal in profile, the head facing right and with a long pointed snout, the curved body finely decorated with a dense design of intertwined dragons and snakes in repousse, glass frame. Weight 4g.

Exhibited: Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 1954-55, cat. no. 9.

Literature: Bo Gyllensvärd, Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, Stockholm, 1953, pl. 9.

Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, The Museum of Art and Far Eastern Antiquities in Ulricehamn, Ulricehamn, 1999, pl. 8.

Note: A pair of gold plaques of this type, from the Mottahedeh collection and illustrated in The Animal in Chinese Art, London, 1968, pl. 111, was included in the China Institute in America exhibition Early Chinese Gold and Silver, China House Gallery, New York, 1971, cat. no. 3, together with another thin gold plaque with a slight design variation, pl. 4, from the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Richard C. Bull. S  ee further examples, one in the form of a taotie mask and one cut in the shape of a dragon with a bird's head, from private collections included in Han Wei and Christian Deydier, Ancient Chinese Gold, Paris, 2001, pls. 30- 31.  

Lot 15. A pair of gold and glass fittings, Warring States Period (475-221 BC), 6.7cm., 2 5/8 in. each. Estimate 2,000 — 3,000 GBP. Lot sold 2,500 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's

each of circular form and decorated with a central, slightly convex glass 'eye' beaded disc enclosed by cast bronze ring covered with a thin sheet gold and composed of three fluted bands, the back with thick malachite encrustation. Quantity: 2. Weight 147g.

Exhibited: Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 1954-55, cat. no. 6.

Literature: Bo Gyllensvärd, Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, Stockholm, 1953, pl. 6.
Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, The Museum of Art and Far Eastern Antiquities in Ulricehamn, Ulricehamn, 1999, pl. 6.

Lot 17. A silver plaque, Warring States Period (475-221 BC), 6.2cm., 2 3/8 in. Estimate 1,500 — 2,000 GBP. Lot sold 4,375 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's

cast in a circular shape with a slightly convex surface and decorated with an elaborate design of interlaced T- and C-scrolls, the wide lines finely engraved, the reverse with a loop for attachment. Weight 45g.

Exhibited: Smithsonian Institution, Washington, 1954-55, cat. no. 77.

Literature: Gyllensvärd, 1953, pl. 77.
Ulricehamn, 1999, pl. 80.

Lot 21. A fine gold garment-hook, Warring States Period (475-221 BC), 3.4cm., 1 3/8 in. Estimate 2,000 — 3,000 GBP. Lot sold 42,500 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's

elegantly cast in a curved 'S' profile and surmounted by a goose head hook with an elongated beak, the long slender neck gracefully tapering into a wide and slightly domed body, a round button set on the back for attachment . Weight 34g.

Exhibited: Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 1954-55, cat. no. 12.

Literature: Bo Gyllensvärd, Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, Stockholm, 1953, pl. 12.
Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, The Museum of Art and Far Eastern Antiquities in Ulricehamn, Ulricehamn, 1999, pl. 12.

Note: Unlike garment hooks cast in bronze or iron, gold garment-hooks are rare. Four gold garment-hooks similarly rendered with realistically portrayed goose heads were found among the burial goods in the tomb of the Marquis Yi of Zeng at Sui Xian in Hubei province, illustrated in Zhongguo meishu quanji. Gongyi meishu bian, vol. 10, Beijing, 1987, pl. 19.

Lot 23. A parcel-gilt silver garment-hook, Warring States Period (475-221 BC), 16.7cm., 6 5/8 in. Estimate 3,000 — 4,000 GBP. Lot sold 8,125 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's

the wide, gently curved body ending in a simple hook and cast with an openwork design of a pair of confronting birds surrounded by interlocking scrolls, surmounted by the head of a stylised beast. Weight 119.5g.

Exhibited: Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 1954-55, cat. no. 82.

Chinese Gold, Silver and Porcelain. The Kempe Collection, Asia House Gallery, New York, 1971, cat. no. 35, an exhibition touring the United States and shown also at nine other museums

Literature: Bo Gyllensvärd, Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, Stockholm, 1953, pl. 82.
Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, The Museum of Art and Far Eastern Antiquities in Ulricehamn, Ulricehamn, 1999, pl. 85.

Sotheby's. Masterpieces of Chinese Precious Metalwork, Early Gold and Silver; Early Chinese White, Green and Black Wares, London, 14 May 2008 

Lot 24. A silver garment-hook, Warring States Period (475-221 BC), 12.6cm., 5in. Estimate 3,000 — 4,000 GBP. Lot sold 5,250 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's

the curved, semi-circular shaft ending in a dragon's head hook and decorated with an overall design of finely chased and engraved volutes and triangles alternating with bands and scales with ring-punched details. Weight 128gr.

Exhibited: Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 1954-55, cat. no. 78.

Literature: Bo Gyllensvärd, Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, Stockholm, 1953, pl. 78.

Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, The Museum of Art and Far Eastern Antiquities in Ulricehamn, Ulricehamn, 1999, pl. 81.

Sotheby's. Masterpieces of Chinese Precious Metalwork, Early Gold and Silver; Early Chinese White, Green and Black Wares, London, 14 May 2008 

Lot 25. A silver garment-hook, Warring States Period (475-221 BC), 9.8cm., 3 7/8 in. Estimate 3,000 — 4,000 GBP. Lot sold 3,750 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's

of slender curved form tapering to a small hook superbly cast in the shape of a bird's head, the body decorated with an engraved design of volutes and triangles. Weight 27.5g.

Exhibited: Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 1954-55, cat. no. 79.

Literature: Bo Gyllensvärd, Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, Stockholm, 1953, pl. 79.

Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, The Museum of Art and Far Eastern Antiquities in Ulricehamn, Ulricehamn, 1999, pl. 82.

Sotheby's. Masterpieces of Chinese Precious Metalwork, Early Gold and Silver; Early Chinese White, Green and Black Wares, London, 14 May 2008

Lot 26. An unusual silver finial, Warring States Period (475-221 BC), 7.6cm., 3in. Estimate 1,000 — 1,500 GBP. Lot sold 1,250 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's

heavily cast with an octagonal tubular base surmounted by a bulbous mid-section before gently tapering into a flat closed end, two holes on opposite sides for attachment. Weight 104.5g.

Exhibited: Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 1954-55, cat. no. 84.

Literature: Bo Gyllensvärd, Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, Stockholm, 1953, pl. 84.

Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, The Museum of Art and Far Eastern Antiquities in Ulricehamn, Ulricehamn, 1999, pl. 87.

Sotheby's. Masterpieces of Chinese Precious Metalwork, Early Gold and Silver; Early Chinese White, Green and Black Wares, London, 14 May 2008 

Lot 28. A silver garment-hook, Warring States Period (475-221 BC), 6.3cm., 2 1/2 in. Estimate 3,000 — 4,000 GBP. Lot sold 3,750 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's

the body cast in the form of a stylised animal head with large horns and ears, finely engraved with scrolls, the slender curved shaft terminating in a bird's head hook. Weight 22.5g.

Exhibited: Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 1954-55, cat. no. 80.

Literature: Gyllensvärd, Stockholm, 1953, pl. 80.

Ulricehamn, Ulricehamn, 1999, pl. 83.

Sotheby's. Masterpieces of Chinese Precious Metalwork, Early Gold and Silver; Early Chinese White, Green and Black Wares, London, 14 May 2008 

Lot 29. A small silver garment-hook, Warring States Period (475-221 BC), 6.3cm., 2 1/2 in. Estimate 1,500 — 2,000 GBP. Lot sold 1,875 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's

cast in the form of an animal head, flanked by larged horns or ears, the shaft issuing from the nose and terminating in a dragon's head. Weight 11g.

Exhibited: Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 1954-55, cat. no. 81.

Literature: Gyllensvärd, Stockholm, 1953, pl. 81.

Ulricehamn, Ulricehamn, 1999, pl. 84.

Sotheby's. Masterpieces of Chinese Precious Metalwork, Early Gold and Silver; Early Chinese White, Green and Black Wares, London, 14 May 2008

Lot 1528. A finely cast bronze bell, bo zhong, Warring States Period, 5th century BC, 9¼ in. (23.5 cm.) high. Estimate USD 125,000 - USD 150,000. Price realised USD 194,500 © Christie's Images Ltd 2012

Of lenticular form, each side with a plain central panel flanked by alternating rows of coiled serpent bosses and interlaced dragon scroll, all within raised borders, the dragon scroll repeated in a shaped configuration below and again on the flat top below the handle formed by two confronted dragons biting the suspension loop.

Provenance: Hans Odder Collection, Germany, circa 1920s.
Sotheby's, London, 19 June 1984, lot 10.

Exhibited: Ostasiatische Kunst und Chinoiserie, Cologne, 1953.

Note: Like yong zhong, bo zhong were made for use in graduated sets, and according to J. So in Eastern Zhou Ritual Bronzes from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, 1995, p. 381, bo zhong and niu zhong appear to have displaced the graduated set of yong zhong after the 5th century BC.

Lot 1529. A rare bronze tuning key, qin zhen yao, Warring States Period, 3rd century BC, 2 5/8 in. (6.3 cm.) high. Estimate USD 12,000 - USD 18,000. Price realised USD 15,000 © Christie's Images Ltd 2012

Cast at the top with a seated mythical beast grasping in its front claws two snakes which encircle the faceted shaft, with allover milky green patina, wood stand.

Provenance: Count Antoine Seilern (1901-1978) Collection, England.
Wolfgang Burchard, London, prior to 1982.
Christie's, London, 17 June 1982, lot 21. 

Exhibited: Ostasiatische Kunst und Chinoiserie, Cologne, 1953.

Note: Not until the excavation of bronze tuning keys together with a set of tuning pegs for a Chinese qin, from the 2nd century BC tomb of the king of Nanyue in Guangzhou, Guandong province in 1983, was the function of objects of this type understood. Keys of this type were used to tighten the pegs on which the strings of a qin are wound. Various bronze tuning keys are shown in line drawings illustrated by J. So, ed., Music in the Age of Confucius, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, 2000, p. 78., fig. 3.

A green glaze bucket, Warring States period (475-221 BC), high 10.3cm, diameter 16cm, foot 12.5cm. National Palace Museum, Beijing.

A green glaze water ripple cover tripod, Warring States period, high 19cm, caliber 19cm, foot 17cm. National Palace Museum, Beijing.

A carved vertical striped globular jar, Warring States period, high 14cm, caliber 8.8cm, foot diameter 12.2cm. National Palace Museum, Beijing.

A green yellow glaze pouring vessel, Warring States period, high 17.7cm, caliber 7cm. National Palace Museum, Beijing.

Lot 16. A circular bronze-backed gold-foil fitting, Warring States Period (475-221 BC), 8.2cm., 3 1/4 in. Estimate 800 — 1,200 GBP. Lot sold 1,000 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's

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. Weight 73.5g.

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

Literature: 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.

Lot 17. A silver plaque, Warring States Period (475-221 BC), 6.2cm., 2 3/8 in. Estimate 1,500 — 2,000 GBP. Lot sold 4,375 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's

cast in a circular shape with a slightly convex surface and decorated with an elaborate design of interlaced T- and C-scrolls, the wide lines finely engraved, the reverse with a loop for attachment. Weight 45g.

Exhibited: Smithsonian Institution, Washington, 1954-55, cat. no. 77.

Literature: Gyllensvärd, 1953, pl. 77.
Ulricehamn, 1999, pl. 80.

Lot 1529. A rare bronze tuning key, qin zhen yao, Warring States Period, 3rd century BC, 2 5/8 in. (6.3 cm.) high. Estimate USD 12,000 - USD 18,000. Price realised USD 15,000 © Christie's Images Ltd 2012

Cast at the top with a seated mythical beast grasping in its front claws two snakes which encircle the faceted shaft, with allover milky green patina, wood stand.

Provenance: Count Antoine Seilern (1901-1978) Collection, England.
Wolfgang Burchard, London, prior to 1982.
Christie's, London, 17 June 1982, lot 21. 

Exhibited: Ostasiatische Kunst und Chinoiserie, Cologne, 1953.

Note: Not until the excavation of bronze tuning keys together with a set of tuning pegs for a Chinese qin, from the 2nd century BC tomb of the king of Nanyue in Guangzhou, Guandong province in 1983, was the function of objects of this type understood. Keys of this type were used to tighten the pegs on which the strings of a qin are wound. Various bronze tuning keys are shown in line drawings illustrated by J. So, ed., Music in the Age of Confucius, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, 2000, p. 78., fig. 3.

A green glaze bucket, Warring States period (475-221 BC), high 10.3cm, diameter 16cm, foot 12.5cm. National Palace Museum, Beijing.

A green glaze water ripple cover tripod, Warring States period, high 19cm, caliber 19cm, foot 17cm. National Palace Museum, Beijing.

A carved vertical striped globular jar, Warring States period, high 14cm, caliber 8.8cm, foot diameter 12.2cm. National Palace Museum, Beijing.

A green yellow glaze pouring vessel, Warring States period, high 17.7cm, caliber 7cm. National Palace Museum, Beijing.

Pendant in a shape of dragon, China, Warring States Period (approx. 480-221 BCE); Nephrite. H. 3 in x W. 5 7/16 in x D. 3/16 in, H. 7.62 cm x W. 13.8 cm x D.48 cm. The Avery Brundage Collection, B60J675 © 2017 Asian Art Museum Chong-Moon Lee Center for Asian Art and Culture.