Page 141 - Sothebys Important Chinese Art London May 2018

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A GILT!SPLASHED BRONZE ARCHAISTIC A RARE PARCEL!GILT AND SILVER!INLAID
VASE, HU BRONZE VASE
QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY MING DYNASTY, 17TH CENTURY
the globular body rising from a spreading foot to a waisted of restrained yuhuchun form, the elegant elongated neck
neck and everted rim, the shoulders applied with two animal gently curving to a ß ared lip, the body supported on a circular
mask handles supporting loose rings, the rich bronze surface footrim , the exterior of the main body decorated in relief with a
artfully ß ecked with irregular gold splashes, the inset base continuous design of four lotus ß owers amidst scrolling foliage,
with a recessed rectangular cartouche enclosing an apocryphal all set against a ring-punched ground, the upper neck inlaid in
Xuande seal mark silver with a key-fret collar
16 cm, 6¼ in. 23 cm, 9 in.
This elegant vase, with its well-proportioned form, intricate
PROVENANCE
parcel-gilding and delicate punched ground, is characteristic of
Collection of Sir Leon Bagrit (1902-1979).
the remarkable workmanship from the atelier of Hu Wenming (c.
1560-1620), one of the most celebrated metal craftsmen active in
ಳ £ 10,000-15,000
HK$ 111,000-166,000 US$ 14,100-21,200 the late Ming dynasty. A native of Yunjian, now part of Shanghai,
he was known to have made a range of wares for the scholar’s
studio, of which this skilfully crafted vase is a splendid example.
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The combination of silver inlay, hammering of gilt decoration of
the main band and large size set the present vessel apart from
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contemporaneous counterparts. A related smaller vase bearing
-FPO #BHSJUᐌɻ € ϋϗᔛ Hu’s signature on the base, from the Ip Yee and Water, Pine and
Stone Retreat collections, was included in the exhibition Arts from
the Scholar’s Studio, Fung Ping Shan Museum, University of Hong
Kong, Hong Kong, 1986, cat. no. 230, and sold twice in our Hong
th
th
Kong rooms, 19 November 1084, lot 25 and 8 April 2014, lot
211. See also another vase with related lotus design, but of pear-
th
shape and with a conical base, sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 15
November 1989, lot 565.
ಳ £ 30,000-40,000
HK$ 332,000-442,000 US$ 42,300-56,500
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IMPORTANT CHINESE ART 139