79 - (R) A BRONZE BELT HOOK, WARRING STATE PERIOD, 4TH TO 2ND CENTURY BC

(R) A BRONZE BELT HOOK, WARRING STATE PERIOD, 4TH TO 2ND CENTURY BC Dimensions: Height 9,5 cm Wide 4,5 cm Depth 1 cm without base Weight: 103 grams with base A compact cast-bronze belt hook of elongated form, terminating in a narrow curved hook and broadening into a relief-decorated body. The ornament is built around a stylised animal mask and curling motifs, their raised contours softened by age and handling. The dark surface carries areas of encrustation and mineralised patina, while the reverse retains the integral button used to secure the fitting to a belt. Belt hooks, or daigou, were both functional and conspicuous elements of dress in ancient China. During the Warring States period they developed into small but sophisticated works of metalwork, often using abstracted animal imagery derived from the visual language of earlier ritual bronzes. Their limited scale encouraged dense patterning and bold silhouettes that could still be read when worn. Mounted on a later wooden stand, this example preserves the sculptural character of the original object while allowing the relief ornament to be viewed clearly. Its appeal lies in the balance between practical form, archaic animal decoration and the richly aged bronze surface. For lots marked with (R), a 19% VAT is added to the combined hammer price and commission. This VAT is waived for: - Private buyers outside the EU who officially export the items.- Businesses inside the EU holding a valid VAT number, exporting to their home country. Proper export documentation is required to waive the VAT