A GILT BRONZE LION-FORM WEIGHT, LATE MING DYNASTY
China, 16th-17th century. Heavily cast, seated in a recumbent pose, slightly raising its head and facing forward, its muscular body decorated with scroll designs around the leg joints, the mane with similar designs as well as ruyi elements, the spine finely detailed with petal-like curls terminating in a furcated tail. The rounded eyes below long sweeping brows reaching to the back of its head, above neatly incised strands of hair.


Provenance:
Collection of Captain André Le Gac, acquired in China in the 1920s, during which time he was the captain of a Yangtze River gunboat, and thence by descent in the same family. André Jules Gabriel Le Gac (1895-1960) was born in Brest, France. He joined the French Navy in 1914 and was awarded the Chevalier de la Legion d’ Honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honor). He was present for the German surrender at Saint-Nazaire in 1945. Throughout his travels with the navy, which also included a station in Hong Kong, Le Gac assembled a large collection of fine Chinese art which he brought home to France, thence remaining in the family for almost 100 years.

Condition:
Good condition with expected old wear and casting irregularities, light scratches, small nicks, minor dents, rubbing and minor losses to gilt. The wood base with a good patina, old wear, minor nicks and natural age cracks. The bronze with a rich, naturally grown patina with malachite and cuprite encrustations.

Weight: 410.1 g (excl. stand), 432.6 g (incl. stand)
Dimensions: Length 7.7 cm

With an associated, finely carved, open worked, and fitted wood stand dating from the Qing dynasty. (2)


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s Hong Kong, 4 October 2016, lot 33
Price: HKD 68,750 or approx.
EUR 9,100
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A silvered-bronze lion-form weight, Ming dynasty, 16th-17th century
Expert remark: Note the similar size (7.5 cm).


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Bonhams London, 27 February 2013, lot 382
Price: GBP 6,000 or approx.
EUR 11,000
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A parcel-gilt bronze scroll weight, Ming or Qing dynasty
Expert remark: Note the similar size (7 cm).




明末銅鎏金獅形鎮紙

中國, 十六至十七世紀。造型厚重，獅子呈坐姿，頭微仰，面朝前，身軀健碩，腿部成如意紋，鬃毛中也有如意紋，脊椎部飾有花瓣狀的捲發，尾巴分叉。長長的眉毛下面是圓圓的眼睛，修剪整齊的髮絲。


來源：
André Le Gac船長的收藏，於 1920 年代在中國購得，當時他是一艘長江砲艇的船長，在同一家族保存至今。André Jules Gabriel Le Gac（95-1960 年）出生於法國布雷斯特。1914年，他加入法國海軍，並被授予Chevalier de la Legion d’ Honneur（榮譽軍團騎士）。1945 年，他出席了德國在聖納澤爾的投降儀式。在隨海軍旅行期間（其中還曾在香港設有駐地），Le Gac收集了大量中國精美藝術品，並將其帶回法國，留在家族已經有近100年的歷史了。

品相：
狀況良好，有磨損和鑄造不規則、輕微劃痕、小刻痕、輕微凹痕、鎏金輕微損失。木質底座具有良好的包漿、磨損、輕微刻痕和自然老化裂紋。青銅具有自然包漿，上面有紅綠色結殼。

重量：410.1克 (不含底座), 432.6 克 (含底座)
尺寸：長7.7 厘米

清朝木架。 (2)


拍賣結果比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：香港佳士得，2016年10月4日，lot 33
價格：HKD 68,750（相當於今日
EUR 9,100
）
描述：明十六/十七世紀烙銀銅獅形鎮紙
專家評論：請注意相似的尺寸 (7.5 釐米)。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：倫敦邦瀚斯，2013年2月27日，lot 382
價格：GBP 6,000（相當於今日
EUR 11,000
）
描述：明或清鎏金銅神獸紙鎮
專家評論：請注意相似的尺寸 (7 釐米)。