Warring States Bronze Taotie Mask Handle with Ring

A Chinese bronze Taotie mask handle with loose ring, Warring…
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A Chinese bronze Taotie mask handle with loose ring, Warring States period (475-221BC), the taotie mask well cast with fine details, supporting a ring handle, covered in a pleasant verdigris patina. 9 cm high, 6 cm wide. Provenance: Anthony J. Allen, New Zealand

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  • Bronze - An alloy of copper and tin, traditionally in the proportions of about 9 parts of copper to 1 part of tin.

    The discovery of bronze in Western Asia in the 4th century enabled people to create metal objects which were superior to those previoulsy possible because of its strength and hardness, and it has been used throughout the world for weapons, coins, tools, statuary and other decorative items.

    It is very fluid in a molten state, and its hardness, strength when set, and non-corrosive properties makes it most suitable for casting sculpture.
  • Patination / Patina - In broad terms, patination refers to the exterior surface appearance of the timber, the effect of fading caused by exposure to sunlight and air over the course of a century or more, changing the piece to a soft, mellow colour.

    As patina is very difficult to replicate, it is one of the most important guides to determining the age of furniture.

    Patina is also the term applied to the bloom or film found on old bronzes due to oxidisation.

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