A PARCEL-GILT AND SILVERED COPPER-ALLOY REPOUSSÉ COMB TOP, TANG DYNASTY
China, 618-907. The gilt upper section of the comb is decorated in repoussé with stylized birds of paradise flying amidst blossoms reserved in a ring-punched ground with floral medallions. The copper-alloy has a fine, naturally grown patina with malachite, cuprite, and azurite encrustations.


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, with wear, expected signs of oxidization, minor corrosion, rubbing to the gilt, and a few small losses and dents.

Weight: 20.6 g
Dimensions: Length 12.7 cm


Literature comparison:

Three related combs in the Idemitsu Museum of Arts, Tokyo, are illustrated in Ancient Chinese Arts in The Idemitsu Collection, Tokyo, 1989, pl. 337. Compare a related bronze comb with a similar bird motif, dated to the Tang dynasty, in the British Museum, registration number 1938,0524.284.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s 12 September 2019, lot 564
Price: USD 20,000 or approx.
EUR 22,000
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A parcel-gilt silver comb, Tang dynasty
Expert remark: Note the related motif, displaying two birds flying amid floral branches. Note the size (9.3 cm).




唐代鎏金銀錘鍱銅梳柄

中國，618-907年。採用錘鍱工藝，串珠紋、鳳穿牡丹等圖案，局部鎏金銀，自然包漿，已出現藍紅色結殼。


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：
狀況良好，有磨損、氧化跡象、輕微腐蝕、鎏金摩擦，以及一些小缺損失和凹痕。

重量：20.6 克
尺寸：長 12.7 釐米


文獻比較：

三件相近的梳子，收藏於出光美術館，見《Ancient Chinese Arts in The Idemitsu Collection》，東京，1989年，圖337。比較一件相近的唐代鳥紋青銅梳，收藏於大英博物館，館藏編號1938,0524.284。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：佳士得，2019年9月12日，lot 564
價格：USD 20,000（相當於今日
EUR 22,000
）
描述：唐銀局部鎏金錘鍱花鳥紋篦
專家評論：請注意相近的主題，雕刻有兩隻鳥兒在花枝間飛翔。請注意尺寸 (9.3 釐米)。