A SILVER-DECORATED BRONZE BOTTLE, HU

WESTERN HAN DYNASTY (206 BC-AD 8)

Details

A SILVER-DECORATED BRONZE BOTTLE, HU
WESTERN HAN DYNASTY (206 BC-AD 8)
The body and neck encircled by silvered ribbed bands above a silvered band encircling the foot, with a pair of small taotie mask handles applied to the shoulder, and three long silvered triangles extending down the neck from the garlic-head mouth, all in contrast to the golden patina of the body, with a small loop projecting from the center of the base, with malachite and reddish encrustation
11¾ in. (29.8 cm.) high

Provenance

Acquired in Hong Kong, 1990.

Exhibited

The Glorious Traditions of Chinese Bronzes, Singapore, 2000, no. 89.
Metal, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth, Hong Kong Museum of Art, 2002-2006.

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Lot Essay

This hu is unusual for its combination of shape, decoration and garlic-head mouth. The shape is related to hu of earlier date, which had broader proportions, such as one dated 4th century BC, which similarly has bands encircling the body, taotie masks on the shoulder, and pendent triangles inlaid in copper on the neck, illustrated by J. So, Eastern Zhou Ritual Bronzes from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, pp. 278-9, no. 50. A related parcel-gilt bronze hu, which has a cover and chain-link handle, in the Musée Guimet, is illustrated by W. Watson, Ancient Chinese Bronzes, pl. 73, where it is dated 1st century BC-1st century AD. The unusual garlic-head mouth of the present vessel is similar to that seen on a bottle-shaped hu of 4th-3rd century BC date illustrated by So, op.cit., pp. 288-9, no. 52, and another dated late 3rd or 2nd century BC, fig. 52.2.

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