LATE WARRING STATES PERIOD-HAN DYNASTY, 3RD-2ND CENTURY BC

An identical gold ornament in the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Richard C. Bull, was sold at Sotheby's New York, 6 December 1983, lot 70. Like the present example, it has three attachment loops on the reverse. Another from the Frederick M. Mayer Collection of Chinese Art, was sold at Christie's London, 24-25 June, 1974, lot 148. Two related gold ornaments, cast as two closely intertwined dragons, described as probably horse trappings, are illustrated in Inlaid bronze and related material from pre-Tang China, Eskenazi, London, June-July 1991, no. 26. The reverse of one has two parallel curved struts. The entry also notes similar gold fittings of slightly earlier date, unearthed in 1980 from tomb number 2 at Qinshihuang's burial site, illustrated in Qin ling er hao tong che ma (Bronze Chariot and Horses - no. 2 from Qinshihuang's Tomb), Beijing, 1983, pl. 14, fig. 3, p. 32, figs. 6, 7 and 8, and p. 34, fig. 2, where it is stated that they were used as harness fittings.