Ming Dynasty Bronze Paperweight: Boy Playing Drum, 16-17th Century

A small Chinese bronze paperweight, late Ming Dynasty, 16-17th…
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A small Chinese bronze paperweight, late Ming Dynasty, 16-17th century, the paperweight in the form of a boy playing a large drum, with obvious enjoyment, his eyes closed and wearing a broad smile, his costume tied in a loop on the back of his shoulder, the high points and base with a golden patina, see Sotheby's Hk, Scholarly Art 111, 8/4/2013, lot 161 for a very similar example, also, Sotheby's Hk, the Mary and George Bloch collection, 23/10/2005, lot 43 for a very similar example, 4.9 cm high, 5.9 cm wide, /

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  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Ming Dynasty - The Ming Dynasty was a ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644. It succeeded the Yuan Dynasty and preceded the Qing Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty was established by Zhu Yuanzhang, a former Buddhist monk who became a rebel leader and eventually overthrew the Mongol Yuan Dynasty. During the Ming Dynasty, China experienced a period of relative stability and prosperity. The government was centralized and bureaucratic, with the emperor at the top of the hierarchy. The Ming Dynasty is known for its cultural achievements, including the development of porcelain, the invention of movable type printing, and the construction of the Great Wall of China.

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