Lot 3040

Description

China, Chou Dynasty (1122-255 B.C.) or earlier, Pei or Cowries, gold leaf bronze cowrie shells (2), (Coole No.31-35, [p.5 Volume 2]). Very fine and very rare. (2)

Coole had five examples in his collection covered by gold leaf. These cowries from the Maldive Islands were shipped into China from the second half of the second millenium B.C. They were imitated and made from various materials from hard wood, bone, jade, semi-precious stones to a range of metals.