A GOLD AND SILVER-INLAID BRONZE ARCHAISTIC TRIPOD EWER AND COVER, HE

MING DYNASTY (1368-1644)

Details

A GOLD AND SILVER-INLAID BRONZE ARCHAISTIC TRIPOD EWER AND COVER, HE
MING DYNASTY (1368-1644)
The compressed spherical body is raised on three bird-surmounted bear-form supports and decorated around the sides with bands of archaistic designs inlaid in silver and reserved on a leiwen ground. The bird-head spout rising from spread wings is surmounted by a rat, and the handle is in the form of a mythical beast with openwork, arched body created by the entwined bodies of two serpents. The cover is decorated en suite below a loop rising from two taotie masks.
11 in. (28 cm.) wide

Provenance

Private collection, Japan.

Lot Essay

The design of this ewer is based on Warring States prototypes, such as the he with very similar openwork handle and spout illustrated in Zhongguo Meishu Quanji; Diaosu bian; Yuanshi Shehui Zi Zhangou Diaosu, Beijing, 1988, vol. 1, p. 119, no. 149. Another similar he was offered in the Prince Kung Collection, American Art Association, 1913, lot. 299. See, also, a similar he from the Sackler Collections sold at Christie's New York, 14 September 2009, lot 100, and another example sold at Christie’s New York, 13 September 2018, lot 1116.

More from Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art

View All