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1 A fine archaic bronze wine vessel (zun ) Early Western Zhou period Height: 10 1/4 in, 26 cm from a spreading modelled foot, the sides rise to a swollen mid-section and columnar neck and terminate in a widely flared mouth with a modelled lip. click picture for more information |
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2 An archaic bronze wine vessel (zun ) Late Shang period Height: 8 3/4, 22.3 cm in, 22.3 cm supported on a spreading ring foot, the rounded sides rise steeply, turn sharply inward at the shoulder and terminate at the widely flared neck. |
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3 An archaic bronze steamer (yan ) Early Western Zhou dynasty Height: 17 1/4 in, 43.8 cm the lower section is formed as three lobes supported on slightly waisted, cylindrical legs. The lobes are each boldly cast with a taotie mask with prominent rounded rectangular eyes that are slit horizontally, buffalo horns, leaf-shaped ears, a bovine nose and fangs. click picture for more information |
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4 A fine bronze covered ding Warring States period Height: 6 1/8 in, 15.4 cm the deep, globular body rises from three short, spreading legs and is set with two finely cast monster-mask handles suspending loose rings. |
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5 A fine gilt-bronze belt hook (daigou ) Warring States period Length: 10 1/8 in, 25.8 cm the upper surface is well cast in high relief with dragons weaving and curling around three circular recessed areas, where inlays of glass or rock crystal are now missing. |
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6 A very fine inlaid bronze belt hook (daigou ) Eastern Han dynasty, 2nd or 3rd century AD Length: 6 1/4 in, 15.9 cm in the form of a mythical animal and a reticulated fish. The animal has the head of a bird, with a long crest, and it bites the head of the fish that it is clasping between its front legs. |
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7 A rare bronze tripod cup Late Warring States period Height: 5 1/2 in, 14 cm the cylindrical cup stands on three cabriole legs, decorated with scrolls, and is set with a ring handle bearing a rope design bordered by rows of raised circles. |
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8 A fine and rare bronze duck-head finial Warring States period Length: 3 3/8 in, 8.5 cm the socket is finely cast as a duck’s head with well-defined, slightly protruding eyes, overlapping feathers and a long beak, pierced horizontally. |
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9 A fine and rare bronze figural lamp Warring States period Height: 10 3/8 in, 26.3 cm the solid male figure, kneeling on an integral rectangular base, holds a cylindrical socket in his outstretched hands. click picture for more information |
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10 A very fine gilt-bronze taotie mask and ring handle Han dynasty Height: 9 1/4 in, 23.3 cm cast with striated scrolling brows, united by an inverted V, above large eyes, two tall, pointed crests and a central horn; the short legs each bear three claws that rest on the cheeks. |
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11 A rare, small cooking and altar set Han dynasty Length of stove: 8 1/2 in, 21.5 cm consisting of a stove (zao), supported on four legs and incorporating a separate steamer (zeng), two bowls and two spoons, and with a detached funnel cast with a beast’s head; a separate bowl; a lamp, cast with mountains to the foot, with a long, curved handle; an incense burner with a pierced top in the form of a mountain range (boshanlu); a ding supported on three legs in the form of bears, with two upright handles and three handles, doubling as feet, on the cover; a circular section hu, with mock handles and a cover bearing traces of a cast design; and a similar square-section hu. |
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12 A fine, large bronze jar (hu) Han dynasty Height: 19 1/2 in, 49.5 cm supported on a spreading ring foot, the well-rounded sides rise to a waisted neck and terminate in a slightly thickened rim. |
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13 A fine bronze mirror Tang dynasty, 8th century Diameter: 6 3/8 in, 16.3 cm well cast with a dragon amid stylised clouds encircling the plain central knop, which doubles as the pearl the dragon is pursuing. |
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14 An extremely fine and rare bronze mirror with silver and lacquer inlay (pingtuo) Tang dynasty Diameter: 12 in, 30.5 cm the large, circular mirror is cast with a central knop in the form of a mythical beast with chased details. The knop is surrounded by an elaborate design in silver inlay and lacquer. |
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15 An amusing bronze weight in the form of a horse and monkey Ming dynasty Length: 2 1/2 in, 6.4 cm the recumbent horse has one foreleg slightly raised and turns its head over its shoulder; its mane and tail are incised. |
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16 A fine bronze weight in the form of a buffalo 17th century Length: 5 1/8 in, 13 cm in a recumbent posture with its head turned as if it had just been disturbed. |
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17 A good bronze weight in the form of a dog of fo Late Ming dynasty Height: 2 in, 5.1 cm seated, with one of its front paws resting on a brocade ball trailing ribbons. |
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18 A fine bronze weight in the form of a dog of fo 17th century Length: 3 1/2 in, 8.9 cm cast in a recumbent posture with its head raised. |
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19 An unusual bronze weight in the form of a crane Ming dynasty Length: 4 in, 10.2 cm seated, with its legs stretched out and its head raised. |
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20 A bronze water dropper Ming dynasty Length: 4 1/4 in, 10.8 cm well cast in the form of a scholar on a boat. The gentleman, sitting cross-legged on an animal skin, plays the qin. |
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21 A fine bronze water vessel and spoon Ming dynasty Length: 5 1/4 in, 13.3 cm the vessel is well cast in the form of a lotus leaf with curled edges and incised veins, with further leaves and pods to the exterior, that, together with the tied stems, form the feet. |
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22 A fine bronze water dropper in the form of a scholar on the back of a water buffalo Ming dynasty Length: 3 3/4 in, 9.5 cm the scholar holds a book in his left hand which rests on his drawn-up knee and his other hand is hidden in his long sleeve. |
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23 A gilt-bronze figure of Guanyin on an elephant Ming dynasty Height: 8 1/2 in, 21.6 cm the bodhisattva sits on a lotus throne reading a book held in her left hand and clutching a rosary in her right. |
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24 A very fine bronze figure of Budai 17th century Length: 7 1/4 in, 18.5 cm seated, with his right arm resting on his raised knee and his left on a large sack. |
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25 A good bronze incense burner Ming dynasty Width: 7 1/2 in, 19 cm of gui form and supported on a low ring foot. The sides are applied with two well-cast and chased lion-mask handles. |
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26 A gold-splashed bronze censer 17th/18th centuries Width across the handles: 7 3/4 in, 19.8 cm heavily cast and supported on three tapering legs, the well-rounded body rises to a waisted neck and terminates in an everted rim from which two loop handles issue. |
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27 A very fine, parcel-gilt bronze candlestick Ming dynasty, 16th/17th centuries Height: 15 5/8 in, 39.7 cm cast in the form of a dancing Court lady with her left arm raised and right lowered; the sleeve endings act as candlestick holders. |
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28 A large bronze figure of Guanyin 17th/18th centuries Height: 19 in, 48.2 cm standing, with her hands held before her. Her full face bears a serene expression with downcast eyes and her incised hair is swept upwards beneath a shawl and fixed with a diadem. |