A GILT-BRONZE LION-FORM WEIGHT

Description:

China, Western Han dynasty
L. 8,5 cm
Well cast as a crouching lioness with coiled powerful body and a collar around the neck.
From a European private collection, acquired at L.H.W. Hong Kong on 22 October 1995
A bronze tiger shown in a similar stance, with head turned to the side in a menacing manner, in the collection of Lord Cunliffe, is illustrated by W. Watson, Ancient Chinese Bronzes, pl. 89b. Cf. with an almost identical bronze of a crouching lioness, sold by Christie's New York, 16 September 2010, lot 905 - Minor corrosion, minor wear