Page 237 - Bonhams Chinese Art NYC Nov 9 2017

The seal script mark cast to the underside of the
vessel reads Enfu Jiazhi Baoding Zhenyong 恩付佳
製寶鼎珍用, which may be translated as ‘Treasured
Ding vessel supremely made for preciously usage’.

Compare a similar parcel-gilt bronze incense burner,
fangding, 17th/18th century, in Musée Cernuschi,
Paris, similarly decorated with taotie masks and cast
with an identical mark to the underside, illustrated by
M.Maucuer in Bronzes de la Chine Impériale du Xe
au XIXe siècle, Paris, 2013, p.100, no.51.

171
A RARE AND LARGE BRONZE ‘ARROW’ VASE,
TOUHU
Ming Dynasty
The compressed globular body cast with four
archaistic taotie masks each separated by a flange,
the shoulders with two open-mouthed Buddhist
lions and reticulated balls, all raised on a spreading
foot, the tall slender neck with two cylinders
attached above two applied writhing chilongs, all
beneath a further two cylinders attached vertically at
the mouth and cast with further taotie masks on a
leiwen ground.
59.8cm (23 1/2in) high.

£8,000 - 12,000
CNY71,000 - 110,000

明 銅仿古饕餮紋投壺

Vases such as the present lot were designed for
the ancient Chinese game of touhu (投壺), or
‘arrow-throwing’, which would form part of the
entertainment at banquets and is mentioned in early
classical texts such as the Chunqiu Zuo Zhuan.
Contestants would aim feathered arrows at the
various cylinders applied to the vase, with higher
points awarded for the less accessible openings.
The loser was made to drink wine, leading to
increased inebriation and diminished throwing
accuracy.

Whereas many examples exist of this form of vase,
in porcelain and cloisonné enamel as well as bronze,
the present lot appears to be unusually well-suited
to the game, with the multiple targets elegantly
spaced around the vase, including the two lions on
the body angled to invite the shooting of an arrow.

171

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue. FINE CHINESE ART | 235