AN INLAID GILT-BRONZE 'ROARING' TIGER, WARRING STATES TO WESTERN HAN DYNASTY China, c. 250-200 BC. The tiger standing foursquare in a fierce manner, almost appearing to be roaring, with its head held high and mouth wide open, baring its teeth. The eyes are inlaid with turquoise. Circular piercing to bottom. Provenance: Solaimani Gallery, Fine Islamic & Oriental Art, Grays Antique Center, London. Dr. Koos de Jong, acquired from the above in 2001 (invoice not available). Dr. de Jong is a Dutch art historian and has been privately collecting Chinese art over decades. He has authored hundreds of articles and several books on Dutch fine and decorative arts spanning from the Middle Ages to the modern era. In 2013, he published an extensive study of Chinese riding gear in "Dragon & Horse, Saddle Rugs and Other Horse Tack from China and Beyond". Between 1976 and 2009 he worked for numerous museums across the Netherlands and was the director of the European Ceramic Work Center in Den Bosch. Condition: Excellent condition, especially considering the age of this piece, with wear and casting flaws, some erosion and weathering as well as a fine, naturally grown malachite patina. Minor losses. Scientific Analysis Reports: 1. A Thermoluminescence sample analysis has been conducted by Oxford Authentication, TL test no. C115n39, dated January 19th, 2016, and is consistent with the suggested period of manufacture, a copy of the thermoluminescence analysis report accompanies this lot. 2. A "Visual examination of surface conditions and alteration processes" on this piece was conducted by W. J. Lustenhower, former head of the Analytical Chemistry Laboratories, Dept. of Earth Sciences of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, confirming it "was naturally corroded under humid conditions". A copy of a letter by W. J. Lustenhower, dated 30 January 2016, detailing his observations and conclusion (as quoted above) acccompanies this lot. Weight: 334.6 g Dimensions: Length 12.5 cm Although the function of these kind of objects is still under debate, it is generally accepted that they were used in tombs as weights for garments. In a set consisting of four weights, the tiger is a symbol for the West, the dragon for the East, the red bird for the South and the turtle, encircled by a snake, for the North. With an associated box. (2) 鎏金銅虎擺件，戰國至漢代 中國，約公元前 250-200。老虎四脚着地，其頭高高舉起，嘴巴張開，露出牙齒，做咆哮狀。 眼睛鑲嵌綠松石。底部有圓形穿孔。 來源：倫敦Solaimani Gallery，伊斯蘭及東方藝術，Grays Antique Center古玩中心。Drs. Koos de Jong收藏，2001年購於上述收藏（發票已遺失）。Drs. De Jong是一位荷蘭藝術史學家， 幾十年來他一直私人收藏中國藝術品。他撰寫了數百篇文章和幾本書，內容涉及從中世紀到現代的荷蘭美術和裝飾藝術。 2013年，他在《Dragon & Horse：Saddle Rugs and Other Horse Tack from China and Beyond》中發表了有關中國騎馬裝備的詳盡研究。1976年至2009年間，他曾在荷蘭的許多博物館工作，並曾擔任登博世歐洲陶瓷工作中心的主任。 品相：狀況極佳，尤其是考慮到這件作品的年代，有磨損和鑄造缺陷，一些侵蝕和風化以及天然生長的孔雀石綠包漿。輕微缺失。 科學鑑定報告：隨附拷貝之牛津實驗室熱釋光鑑定報告及專家W. J. Lustenhower鑑定書。 重量：334.6 克 尺寸：長12.5 厘米