A BRONZE TRIPOD STEAMER, XIANCHINA, SONG/MING DYNASTY, 11TH/14TH CENTURY

This vase belongs to a very specific group of archaistic bronze vases made during the Song/Ming dynasties. The archaistic designs and shapes are based on those of ancient bronzes. The style of casting, in low relief, is also peculiar to these vessels.
See an archaic bronze from late Shang/early western Zhou dynasty which inspired the present vase illustrated in Maud Girard-Geslan, Bronze Archaïques de Chine, Trésors du Musée Guimet, Paris, 1995, p.32-33.