Han Dynasty Silver-Inlaid Gilt-Bronze Tiger Weights Set
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A rare set of four silver-inlaid gilt-bronze weights, Han Dynasty each in the form of a recumbent tiger on a slightly irregular circular base, the animal with head raised and turned looking over its hind quarters, the four paws held infront, the tail curled up between its hind legs and resting against the flank, the striped fur naturalistically detailed in silver inlay, traces of gilding (4) 6.5 cm diameter. Other Notes: It is rare to find four weights that appear to form a set. Two gilt and silvered bronze figures of tigers, excavated at Xiaobaiyancun, XI'an, Shaanxi province are illustrated in Kunstschatze aus china, Zurich, 1980, pl. 31, where it is noted that such figures were used in tombs as weights for the four corners of a shroud or in daily life as mat weights. Such weights are more frequently set on a flat circular base, compare four tiger-form examples illustrated in ancient Chinese arts in the Idemitsu collection, Tokyo, 1989, pl. 240, together with another figure of a coiled tiger, pl. 236. Tiger form weights have also been sold at auction; see one from the Ellsworth collection sold Sotheby's New York, 19 March 2002, lot 116; another silver inlaid piece sold Christie's New York, 2 December 1985, lot 87; and one from the Montague Meyer collection sold Christie's London, 14 April 1980, lot 76. Weights of this type can also be found in the form of a coiled qilin biting its haunches, such as the piece from the H.K. Burnet collection sold Sotheby's London, 2 April 1941, lot 341.
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- Gilding - Gilding is a method of ornamentation whereby a thin sheet of gold metal is applied to items made of wood, leather, ceramics, glass and silver for decorative purposes.
For furniture including mirrors, the sheet of gold is usually applied over a coating of gesso. Gesso is a mixture of plaster of Paris and gypsum mixed with water and then applied to the carved wooden frames of mirrors and picture frames as a base for applying the gold leaf. After numerous coats of gesso have been applied, allowed to dry and then sanded a coat of "bole", a usually red coloured mixture of clay and glue is brushed on and allowed to dry, after which the gold leaf is applied. Over time parts of the gilding will rub off so the base colour can be seen. In water gilding, this was generally a blue colour, while in oil gilding, the under layer was often yellow. In Victorian times, gilders frequently used red as a pigment beneath the gold leaf.
Metal was often gilded by a process known as fire gilding. Gold mixed with mercury was applied and heated, causing the mercury to evaporate, the long-term effect of which was to kill or disable the craftsman or woman from mercury poisoning. The pursuit of beauty has claimed many victims, not the least of which were the artists who made those pieces so highly sought after today. - 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.
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