A BRONZE FACETED STORAGE JAR AND COVER, FANGHU
A BRONZE FACETED STORAGE JAR AND COVER, FANGHU
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PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE NEW YORK COLLECTION
A BRONZE FACETED STORAGE JAR AND COVER, FANGHU

HAN DYNASTY (206 BC-AD 220)

Details
A BRONZE FACETED STORAGE JAR AND COVER, FANGHU
HAN DYNASTY (206 BC-AD 220)
The faceted pear-shaped body, raised on a slightly flared foot, has plain sides, with small loops suspending rings on two sides below the rim, and relief-cast taotie mask handles suspending loose rings applied on the shoulder of the other two sides, the rings attached to links attached at the other end to a slightly arched handle cast with bands of cowrie pattern between the dragon-head terminals. The cover has canted sides and is applied with bird-scroll finials at the corners and a ring handle on top. A six-character inscription is casted in relief on the base, may be read jia fang li ma bing yi. The bronze has a brown and milky green patina and blue-green encrustation.
15 7/8 in. (40.4 cm.) high, stand
Provenance
Acquired in Hong Kong, 14 January 1998.

Lot Essay

The inscription cast in relief on the base of this vessel, jia fang li ma bing yi, can be translated as 'family's fanghu, (wishing for) horses' welfare and elimination of diseases'.

The addition of the relief inscription on the base of this vessel is an unusual feature, but can be found on other bronze vessels of the Han dynasty, such as the hu in the Palace Museum, Beijing, which is cast in relief on its base with a nine-character inscription in seal script reading, "happiness comes with drinking wine and eating." See The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum - 28 - Bronze Articles for Daily Use, Hong Kong, 2006, pp. 62-63, no. 54. Compare, also, the bronze hu excavated in 1961 in Gaoyao Village, Shaanxi province, which is cast in relief on one side with an inscription in seal script reading jiu jiang gong (Nine river offering), illustrated in Zhongguo Qingtongqi Quanji - 12 - Qin Han, Beijing, 1998, p. 67, no. 65.

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