Bronze with gold and silver. China, late Warring States to Western Han, approx. 3rd to 2nd cent. BC
This little belt clasp gou has a curved form and a curled-in dragon head on the smaller end. The visible side is bevelled and entirely with gold and silver decoratively inlaid. Abstract forms compose the patterns: Animals, volutes, axe-forms and in the center on a silver area poss. a long life mushroon or a form of the sign for "heart" xin in abstract seal script. Strong age patina development, especially on the back.
LENGTH 9,6 CM
From a German private collection