TWO REPOUSSÉ GOLD-SHEET AND IRON FITTINGS

Details
TWO REPOUSSÉ GOLD-SHEET AND IRON FITTINGS
WESTERN HAN DYNASTY

Each comprising a bulb-shaped iron plaque covered in a repoussé gold sheet decorated with a recumbent gazelle with head turned to look over its back and tail raised, the surface of the gold sheet pierced at the narrow end, presumably for attatchment
2 3/8 and 2¼in. (6.1 and 5.7cm.) long (2)

Lot Essay

For two plaques, similarly constructed of repoussé gold sheet over an iron base, one decorated with a long-horned mountain goat, see Eskenazi, Early Chinese art: 8th century BC - 9th century AD, July 1995, pp. 32-33, Catalogue, nos. 12 and 13. The authors note "It has not been possible to find similar trappings made of gold sheet pressed over iron. However, three other silver plaques, all of roughly similar shape and size have been published, two excavated as far apart as Korea and Outer Mongolia though, it must be admitted, stylistically rather different"