A SILVER-INLAID BRONZE CROSSBOW FITTING, WARRING STATES PERIOD
China, 475-221 BC. Of rounded rectangular form, the hollow fitting has a square base and an aperture at the back for mounting it to the weapon. It is decorated overall with a geometric design of lozenge silver inlays with C-scrolls and stylized leafy scrolls. The top has a raised oval that extends down the side and is covered in the same design.


Provenance:
P.C. Lu Works of Art Ltd, Hong Kong. From a private collection in the northeastern United States, acquired from the above. Started as a small business in January 1976 in Hong Kong, selling Chinese antiques, P.C. Lu was able to scale operations, eventually sending his son Fred to the MIT to pursue his PhD. Today, many objects from his fine collection are housed in the British Museum.

Condition:
Good condition, commensurate with age. Signs of wear and weathering, dents, scratches, extensive rubbing to one side, soil encrustations, losses, corrosion. The inside seems to bear small remnants of fabric. Naturally grown patina with solid malachite encrustations overall.

Weight: 201.4 g
Dimensions: Width 5.5 cm


Literature comparison:

Compare a related corner fitting, 5.8 cm long, dated 4th-3rd century BC, in the National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, accession number S2012.9.1605. Compare a related finial with gold and silver inlays, 6.3 cm long, dated 5th-3rd century BC, in the National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, accession number S2012.9.2236. Compare a pair of bronze finials with silver inlays decorated with a similar geometric design, 6 cm long, dated 5th-4th century BC, in the National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, accession number S2012.9.1677.1-2.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Christies New York, 16 March 2017, lot 865
Price: USD 9,375 or approx.
EUR 10,500
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A Silver-Inlaid Bronze Circular Ornament, Warring States Period (475-221 Bc)
Expert remark: Note the similar inlay work and size (6 cm).




戰國錯銀銅十字弓配件

中國，公元前475-221年。中空配件呈圓角矩形，有一個方形底座，背面有一個孔，用於將其安裝到武器上。 整體裝飾採用菱形銀色鑲嵌幾何設計，帶有卷葉紋。頂部有一個凸起的橢圓形，向下延伸到側面，並覆蓋有相同的紋飾。


來源：
香港P.C. Lu Works of Art Ltd藝術公司；美國東北部私人收藏購於上述公司。P.C. Lu 藝術公司於1976 年 1 月在香港成立，最初是一家銷售中國古董的小企業，後來擴大運營規模，最終將他的兒子Fred送到麻省理工學院攻讀博士學位。 如今，他的許多精美收藏品都收藏在大英博物館中。

品相：
品相良好，有磨損和風化跡象、凹痕、劃痕、一側有大面積磨損、土壤結殼、損失、腐蝕。內部似乎有少量織物殘留。自然包漿，整體帶有堅固的結殼。

重量：201.4 克
尺寸：寬 5.5 厘米


文獻比較：

比較一件相近的西元前四至三世紀十字弓配件，5.8 厘米長，收藏於史密森國立亞洲藝術博物館，館藏編號S2012.9.1605。比較一件相近的西元前五至三世紀錯金銀鑲嵌矛，6.3 厘米長，收藏於史密森國立亞洲藝術博物館，館藏編號S2012.9.2236。比較一對西元前五至四世紀錯銀鑲嵌相似的幾何設計頂端，6 厘米長，收藏於史密森國立亞洲藝術博物館，館藏編號S2012.9.1677.1-2。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2017年3月16日，lot 865
價格：USD 9,375（相當於今日
EUR 10,500
）
描述：戰國銅錯銀圓飾
專家評論：請注意相似的鑲嵌和尺寸(6 厘米)。