1

An archaic bronze food vessel (liding )
Shang dynasty, 12th–11th centuries BC
Height: 7 1/8 in, 18.1 cm

with a lobed body, supported on three cylindrical legs, and a moulded rim set with two loop handles.

2

A fine and very rare archaic bronze ewer (he)
Late Western Zhou dynasty
Height: 13 1/4 in, 33.6 cm

with a circular body set on four legs in the form of curling mythical beasts, a straight, very slightly tapering spout, a loop handle issuing from a dragon’s head, and a bird-shaped cover, attached to the shoulder by loops and a chain.

3

A fine and very rare archaic bronze vessel (he)
Mid Spring and Autumn period
Height: 8 3/4 in, 22.2 cm

the well-rounded vessel rises from three udder-shaped legs, and has a flaring neck and a tall, cup-shaped mouth.

4

A very fine and unusual square bronze mirror
Warring States period
4 3/4 in, 12.1 cm square

thinly cast with a simple, double-grooved loop to the centre and a plain border.

5

A rare gold and bronze fitting
Warring States period or Western Han dynasty
Width: 1 3/4 in, 4.5 cm

the domed square ornament with rounded corners has a two-pronged fitting on the reverse, pierced for attachment.

6

A fine bronze water dropper
Han dynasty
Length: 4 1/4 in, 10.8 cm

cast in the form of a mythical beast holding an ear cup in its mouth. The animal is crouched as if poised to pounce.

7
Two gilt-bronze seals

Eastern Han dynasty
Height: 3/4 in, 1.8 cm

the square-section seals are surmounted by finely cast bixie with two horns, beards, muscular bodies and long tails, both animals with chased details.

8

A fine and very rare gilt-bronze belt ornament
Tang dynasty
Length: 3 5/8 in, 9.3 cm

of rectangular form with rounded corners to one side.

9

A pair of unusual bronze pricket candlesticks
Late Ming dynasty
Height: 11 in, 28 cm

each in the form of a lively Buddhist lion standing on a spreading oval base cast with lotus petals.

10

A good bronze figure of a scholar
Late Ming dynasty
Height: 10 3/4 in, 27.4 cm

standing in an elegant pose with his right hand held before him and his left hidden in his long sleeve.

11

A fine and unusual parcel-gilt bronze figure of a scholar
Late Ming dynasty
Height: 4 5/8 in, 11.8 cm

seated on a rock, chased with sprigs of grass, the scholar holds a gilt feather fan in his right hand and a gilt scroll in his left.

12

A fine and rare gold-splashed bronze washer
17th/18th centuries
Length: 3 1/4 in, 8.3 cm

in the form of a large shell with naturalistic twisting convex bands, with two similar, smaller shells, tied with ribbons, to either side forming stabilising feet.

13

A fine bronze brush washer
Qianlong mark and period
Width: 4 3/8 in, 11.2 cm

of circular form with well-rounded, incurving sides terminating in a lipped rim.

14

A three-piece jade-inset gilt-bronze garniture
Qianlong period
Height of censer: 10 1/4 in, 26 cm

comprising a censer and cover (fangding) and a pair of pricket candlesticks.

15

A pair of rare gilt-metal and enamel jardinières
18th century
Length: 9 1/2 in, 24.2 cm

each of lobed quatrefoil section with S-shaped sides terminating in a flange rim and four cloud-shaped feet.

16

An unusual silver-gilt censer and cover
18th century
Width: 6 1/2 in, 16.5 cm

the globular censer, supported on a spreading foot, has a waisted neck and an upright rim and is set with two finely cast handles emerging from two-horned dragons’ heads and inlaid with semi-precious stones.