A rare gilt-bronze falcon-shaped candlestick holder, Han dynasty | 漢 銅鎏金燭臺

Candlestick holders from the Han dynasty, with animal-shaped handles are particularly rare. See a closely related example of a dragon-head handle and another with a goose-head handle, also previously in the Ellsworth Collection, sold together in these rooms, 19th March 2002, lot 137. Compare three inscribed holders in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, vol. 28 Bronze Articles for Daily Use, Beijing, 2006, pp 100-101, 104-105 and 106-107: one similarly cast with a dragon-head, with slightly taller feet; the other two with undecorated handles.