Experts baffled by mysterious artefact to be auctioned near Kilkenny
The artefact’s owner reached out to Sheppard’s after watching the More4 television series Country House Auction
A mysterious Chinese bronze artefact has been consigned to Sheppard's Irish Auction House in Durrow for its upcoming sale at the end of November.
The artefact’s owner reached out to Sheppard’s after watching the More4 television series Country House Auction.
The show, filmed over four episodes at Castle Durrow, featured the Sheppard family conducting a sale and it piqued the owner's interest.
This gilded bronze piece has left experts baffled. Featuring a six-character reign mark of the Yongle Emperor, the artefact is adorned with a dragon head motif over scrolling lotus sprays. However, whether it is a sceptre or a mace remains unclear.
Researchers have noted similarities between this artefact and a 14th-century Sino-Tibetan ritual scraper in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
Sheppard's are now collaborating with specialists in Sino-Tibetan artefacts to uncover more information about this intriguing object.