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2. Gold Belt Hook Central Asia or Northwest China Eastern Han Dynasty 1st century Gold, agate and semi-precious stones Length: 7.5cm |
A gold belt hook depicting a mongoose in combat with a cobra. A large agate stone is used to form the body of the mongoose and smaller sized agate is used to highlight other features of the body. Darker stones are used to inlay the eyes of both creatures. Although the belt hook is Chinese in form this particular subject appears to be unrecorded in Chinese art and one can only surmise that it would have been made for a North Indian or Persian merchant familiar with the nature of both the mongoose and the cobra. Detail: alternate view Detail: close-up view |