A RARE BRONZE ARCHAISTIC ANIMAL-FORM WATER POT

SONG/MING DYNASTY, 12TH-17TH CENTURY

Details

A RARE BRONZE ARCHAISTIC ANIMAL-FORM WATER POT
SONG/MING DYNASTY, 12TH-17TH CENTURY
Hollow cast as a crouching mythical beast with curved horns and wings rising from the front haunches, with a tubular neck rising from the back and an oval cup projecting from the lower jaw below a small hole in the mouth, with dark patina and 'malachite encrustation'
6¼ in. (15.9 cm.) long

Provenance

Desmond Gure Collection, 1968.

Literature

D. Gure, "An Early Jade Animal Vessel and Some Parallels", T.O.C.S., vol. 31, London, 1957-1959, pp. 75-82, pl. 26a.
D. Gure, "Selected Examples from the Jade Exhibition at Stockholm, 1963, A Comparative Study", B.M.F.E.A., no. 36, Stockholm, 1964, pp. 117-58, pl. 18 (1a and 1b).

If you wish to view the condition report of this lot, please sign in to your account.

View condition report

Lot Essay

Although previously published by Desmond Gure as Wei dynasty (see Literature), this rare water pot appears to be based on Six Dynasties prototypes such as the example in the Qing Court collection illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum - 28 - Bronze Articles for Daily Use, Hong Kong, 2006, no. 137. The animal in the Palace example is a more robust and vital creature and the cup held in its mouth is an ear-cup. It still retains the tubular water dropper in the opening in the back, which the present vessel also would have had.

More from Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Including Property from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections

View All