Page 4 - Later Chinese Bronzes from the Collection of Ulrich-Hk 2014

CATALOGUE NOTE

Close examination of the surface of the vase suggests that the handles never had rings. There is no obvious mark
recognisable in the patination of the main body of the vase, which would have been the case had rings once been
present. Ulrich Hausmann's conclusion is that it was possible to order these vessels, with or without rings - the latter
design chosen to avoid the vessel looking like a temple arrangement, where rings were a standard feature. Another
slightly larger bronze handled vase of similar hu form, also without rings, is in the British Museum, dated Yuan / Song
dynasty, registration no.1990,0528.1.

For additional information about bronze flower vessels, see the section Ulrich Hausmann writes in the introduction to
this catalogue, where he quotes from the Ming Dynasty scholar Zhang Deqian (circa 1600):

"Copper is preferred to gold and silver to avoid suggestion of opulence and vases with earrings should be avoided, as
also a symmetrical arrangement in pairs, to avoid their looking as if on a temple altar".