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LOT 0392
Northern Thai Gold Dragon-Headed Bracelets with Rubies and Sapphires
18TH CENTURY A.D.
2 1/2 in. (24.18 grams total, 64-65mm).
A matched pair of penannular bracelets, each formed in tightly-bound plaited gold wire with terminals formed as the crested heads of makara, their eyes set with rubies; mounted in a lined presentation case. [2]
ProvenanceHabsburg, Feldman, GOLD, Important Ancient and Ethnic Jewellery and Works of Art in Precious Metal, Hotel des Bergues, Geneva, 14 May 1990, no.105, 111.
Acquired by the current owner from the above sale.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12800-241416.
This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
Cf. for the ancient prototypes of such bracelets Demandt, M.H.S., ‘Early Gold Ornaments of Southeast Asia: Production, Trade and Consumption’ in Asian Perspectives, Vol. 54, No. 2, 2016, pp.305-330, fig.8.
FootnotesGold jewellery in northern Thailand holds both aesthetic and cultural significance, deeply rooted in regional identity, status, and spiritual belief. Traditionally crafted by skilled artisans, such pieces were not only symbols of wealth and social standing but also believed to offer protection and merit. In Lanna culture (the historic kingdom of northern Thailand), gold was closely associated with religious offerings, marriage rituals, and rites of passage, often passed down through generations as cherished heirlooms. The intricate designs—frequently featuring floral and mythical motifs—reflect both indigenous styles and broader Southeast Asian influences, underscoring gold’s enduring role in both personal adornment and communal heritage.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0392
Northern Thai Gold Dragon-Headed Bracelets with Rubies and Sapphires
Sold for (Inc. bp): £7,800
-
Hoi An Cargo Shipwreck Glazed Blue and White Lidded Box Collection
15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £72
Comprising three powder boxes, two with painted floral motifs and one with a landscape to the lid. 293 grams total, 56-66 mm
Ex Butterfield and Butterfield auction with official Hoi An Hoard labels. Accompanied by an illustrated information sheet about the Hoi An shipwreck. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
In the mid 15th century a freighting junk loaded with fine Vietnamese pottery sank in an area of the South China Sea called the 'Dragon’s Embrace.' This vessel is part of the shipwreck cargo recovered off the coast of Vietnam at Hoi An. The ceramics themselves were probably made in the area of Chu Dau. -
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Acquired from a gallery in Hong Kong. Private collection, Hong Kong, acquired in the 1990s. Private collection, London, acquired in the 2000s. Accompanied by an original of a thermoluminescence analysis report no.C125k85 by Oxford Authentication. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
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Ex Nagel Auction, with official Tek Sing Treasure labels to verso. Accompanied by an illustrated information sheet about the Tek Sing shipwreck. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
The Tek Sing (True Star) wreck is one of the famous recovery stories of the 20th century. Sailing from the port of Xiamen (then known as Amoy) in February 1822 the vessel Tek Sing was bound for Jakarta, Indonesia laden with porcelain goods and 1600 Chinese emigrants. The captain decided to pass through the Gaspar Strait, between the Bangka-Belitung Islands, and ran aground on a reef. The vessel sank in about 100 feet of water. The next morning, February 7, an English East Indiaman captained by James Pearl, passing through the same waters, encountered debris and some survivors and managed to rescue about 190 of the latter.
