Page 75 - Sothebys Fine Chinese Art London, November 2018

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A RARE GILT-BRONZE TRIPOD Compare a Yongle mark and period stand of this type, but
OFFERING STAND without the central platform, sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 31st
May 2017, lot 2806; another decorated with larger beads on
EARLY MING DYNASTY the exterior of the ring, included in the exhibition Chinese and
Japanese Bronzes, A.D. 1100-1900, Michael Goedhuis, 1989,
the circular ring platform supported on three slender legs cat. no. 14, and sold at Christie’s New York, 28th March 1996,
finely cast as stylised makara with their sinuous bodies lot 148; and a cloisonné enamel example, attributed to the 15th
detailed with elaborate foliate scrolls extending to the tails, the century, sold in these rooms, 7th June 1988, lot 40.
platform decorated with a border of lappets around the rim
13.5 cm, 5¼ in. ‡ £ 30,000-50,000
HK$ 304,000-510,000 US$ 38,800-65,000
The present piece belongs to a rare group of stands produced
during the early Ming period, likely used to support various 明初 鎏金銅魚龍紋摺疊式三足供
Buddhist ritual implements on an altar. With its legs cast as the
mythological sea creature, makara, this stand was probably
part of a chug tor-chos (water offering set), where a small
flat bowl would rest upon the central platform, employed to
propitiate the nagas, who are divine serpents believed to dwell
in any body of water, as well as various classes of deities.

IMPORTANT CHINESE ART 73