A GILT-BRONZE PAIR OF ‘DUCK’ MAT WEIGHTS, HAN DYNASTY
China, 206 BC-220 AD. The pair of avian creatures cast in a recumbent position seated atop a pedestal with both webbed feet tucked, the heads raised high looking straight ahead, the almond shaped eyes incised to the sides and centered by a long straight beak, the pair of wings with defined feathers clasped tightly to the body, all ending in an upward flaring stumped tail. (2)


Provenance
: P.C. Lu Works of Art Ltd, Hong Kong. The private collection of an American north-east collector, acquired from the above. To the base, a collector’s label, ‘0M50 AWE2PR.’ 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. Wear, minor dents, light scratches, signs of weathering and erosion, casting flaws, losses to the gilt. Fine, solid patina with distinct malachite and cuprite encrustations.

Weight: 133 g and 130.5 g
Dimensions: Length 5.1 cm (each)


Mat weights
crafted from precious materials such as bronze and jade, often gilded or inlaid with gold, silver or gemstones, were produced in sets of four and served a practical function of anchoring down woven mats for seating. Mats and corner-weights were believed to have been used at banquets, even those laid out in tombs. Inlaid animal-form weights were discovered in the tomb of Dou Wan, consort of Liu Sheng, Prince Jing of Zhongshan (d. 113 BC), alongside food and wine vessels.


Literature comparison
:
Compare a pair of related pottery ducks, dated to the 2nd century BC, intended for use as burial goods, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 2015.500.7.8a, b. Note the similar style and form.


Auction comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s Hong Kong, 23 November - 7 December 2021, lot 3305
Price: HKD 60,000 or approx.
EUR 7,300
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A gilt-bronze ‘lion’ weight, Han dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD)
Expert remark: Compare the gilt, the alloy with its distinct areas of cuprite, the casting and incision work. Note the larger size (8.2 cm).




漢代一對鎏金銅鴛鴦席鎮

中國，公元前206 年至公元220年。一對鴛鴦呈坐姿，坐在底座上，雙腳內收，頭高高地昂起，直視前方；一對翅膀輪廓分明，羽毛清晰，尾巴向上翹起。(2)


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、輕微凹痕、輕微劃痕、風化和侵蝕跡象、鑄造缺陷、鍍金損失，細膩堅實的包漿，帶有明顯的紅綠結殼。

重量：分別為133克與130.5 克
尺寸：各長5.1 厘米


文獻比較：

比較一對的二世紀陶鴨，用作陪葬品，收藏於大都會藝術博物館，館藏編號2015.500.7.8a，b。請注意相似的外形。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：香港佳士得， 2021年11月23日 - 12月7日，lot 3305
價格：HKD 60,000（相當於今日
EUR 7,300
）
描述：漢鎏金銅太獅少獅紙鎮
專家評論：比較鎏金，具有明顯赤銅礦區的合金，鑄造和雕刻。請注意尺寸較大 (8.2 厘米)。