A GOLD-INLAID BRONZE FINGERNAIL GUARD, WARRING STATES TO WESTERN HAN China, 4th-1st century BC. The slender and finely curved fingernail guard intricately inlaid with a stylized phoenix and geometric designs. With a fine, naturally grown patina with malachite and cuprite encrustations. Provenance: J. J. Lally & Co., New York, USA. From a noted private collection in New York City, USA, by repute acquired from the above. Thence by descent within the same family. Condition: Excellent condition, fully commensurate with age, as expected with extensive wear, losses, dents and nicks. Fine, naturally grown patina. Weight: 36.3 g Dimensions: Length 9.2 cm Auction result comparison: Compare a related bronze garment hook, also dated Warring States to Western Han and with very similar gold inlay depicting stylized phoenixes, but of larger size (17.4 cm), at Christie's New York in Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art on 25 September 2020, lot 1518, sold for USD 35,000. 戰國至西漢錯金銅護甲套 中國，公元前四至一世紀。纖細而彎曲的護甲套錯金鑲嵌著鳳紋和幾何線條。自然生長的精美包漿和孔雀石綠及赤褐色結殼。 來源： 美國紐約J. J. Lally & Co.藝廊。美國紐約知名私人收藏, 據説購於上述藝廊，保存在同一家族至今。 品相：品相極好，完全符合其年代，如預期的那樣，有大量磨損、缺損、凹痕和刻痕。自然生長的包漿。 重量：36.3 克 尺寸：長 9.2 厘米 拍賣結果比較：一件銅帶鈎，同樣為戰國至西漢，很相近的錯金鳳紋，但尺寸稍大 (17.4 厘米)，于紐約佳士得 Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art 2020年9月 25日lot 1518, 售價USD 35,000。