A rare archaic bronze inscribed ritual food vessel, dingLate Shang/Early Western Zhou DynastyThe globular body flanked by two upright loop handles and supported on three cylindrical legs, crisply cast under the rim with a band of C-scrolls and taotie masks with prominent eyes, the wall of the interior cast with a five-character inscription, the bronze covered with an attractive olive patina with areas of encrustation. 15.5cm (16 1/8in) high.Footnotes:商晚期/西周早期 青銅饕餮紋三足鼎Provenance: an English private collection來源：英國私人收藏The inscription Zuo muji zunyi 作母己尊彝 may be translated as 'This sacrifical vessel was made for mother Ji'.Ritual bronze vessels such as the present lot were among the most highly prized and technically sophisticated objects manufactured in early China. Reserved for use by the most powerful families of the time, they carried the offerings presented to the ancestors during the performance of rituals. These vessels were often cast with inscriptions which recorded the land and regional affiliations of the ancestors and their wider family. Honoured and commemorated through the use of these precious vessels, the ancestral spirits were thought to confer blessings on their descendants while at the same time, the use of the vessel displayed to the living the power and wealth of their owners.A bronze ritual vessel ding, Shang dynasty, decorated with similar designs as the present example, is illustrated in the National Palace Museum, A Catalogue of Shang Dynasty Bronze Inscriptions, Taipei, 1995, pp.36-37.Compare with a related but slightly larger archaic bronze ding, Western Zhou dynasty, which was sold at Christie's New York, 4 March 2011, lot 1246. See also another bronze ding, late Shang dynasty, which was sold at Christie's New York, 21-22 March 2013, lot 1216.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
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A very fine white jade incense-tool vaseQianlong Deftly carved rising from a short splayed foot to an ovoid body surmounted by a long tapering, cylindrical neck with galleried rim, the body exquisitely carved in low-relief around the exterior with archaistic designs of confronted stylised chilong, the stone of even pale white tone, wood stand. 11.2cm (4 1/2in) high (2).Footnotes:清乾隆 白玉雕仿古螭龍紋香插Provenance: a Swiss private collection來源：瑞士私人收藏Incense-tool vases would be used to contain implements such as metal chopsticks and spatula which would have been used to prepare incense on sand contained in an incense burner. In contrast to much Chinese jade carving in the 18th century, which was characterised by decorative high-relief carving, the Qianlong emperor commissioned a large number of jades which were inspired by the forms and designs of antiquity. Jade carvers were encouraged to move away from the 'new style' by studying archaic bronze vessels in the Qing Court Collection or in illustrated woodblock prints, and adapting them to the medium of jade. Inspired in its decoration by archaic bronzes, the present lot epitomises this trend. See for example, a related white jade incense tool vase with archaistic taotie pattern, but with a pair of handles, Qing dynasty, illustrated in the Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum: Jade, 10, Beijing, 2011, p.149.Compare with a slightly larger (14.5cm high) white jade archaistic bottle vase, Qianlong, which was sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 8 April 2010, lot 1882.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: * Y* VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium.Y Subject to CITES regulations when exporting items outside of the EU, see clause 13.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
A spinach-green jade incense burner and openwork coverQianlong/ JiaqingFinely carved supported on a short recessed foot, carved around the exterior with taotie masks reserved on a dense and intricately incised leiwen ground, rising to an elegantly waisted rim flanked by a pair of S-shaped handles handles, the domed cover finely pierced with dense lotus scrolls, and surmounted by a chilong finial, the stone of dark green tone with dark striations, wood stand. 21.6cm (8 1/2in) wide. (3).Footnotes:清乾隆/嘉慶 碧玉鏤雕饕餮紋香薰Provenance: Erwin Scharf (1904-1978), and thence by descentErwin Scharf (1904-1978) emigrated from Germany to Britain in the 1930s to escape Nazi persecution of the Jews. He graduated from the university of Leipzig with a doctorate in law but never practiced, rather going into the family business of manufacturing sound reproducing components. His brother, Dr Alfred Scharf was an art historian and it was he who encouraged Erwin's interest in art. 來源：Erwin Scharf（1904-1978）舊藏，並由後人保存迄今Erwin Scharf（1904-1978），二十世紀三十年代，為逃避納粹對猶太人的迫害，自德國移民英國。 Erwin畢業於萊比錫大學並獲法學博士學位，後加入製造聲音再現裝置的家族企業。其兄Alfred Scharf博士是一名藝術史學家，激發了Erwin對藝術的興趣。Inspired by the shape and decoration of archaic bronze gui food vessels of the Zhou dynasty, the present lot is a fine example of the stylistic developments during the 18th century inspired by the wishes of the Qianlong emperor. Aiming to 'restore the ancient ways', the emperor wished to reinstate the intrinsic qualities of simplicity, sincerity and happy exuberance of the ancient cultures. For this purpose, the emperor instructed the court to collect drawings of antiquities, such as the 'Catalogue of Xiqing Antiquities' (Xi Qing Gu Jian 西清古鑑), which served as sources of designs for the production of contemporary vessels. See Chang Li-tuan, The Refined Taste of the Emperor: Special Exhibition of Archaic and Pictorial Jades of the Ch'ing Court, Taipei, 1997, pp.49-50. Compare with a related spinach-green jade tripod incense burner and cover, Qianlong, said to have come from the Summer Palace, Beijing, illustrated by S.C.Nott, Chinese Jade throughout the Ages, Rutland, 1971, pl.CXVIII; see also a related spinach-green jade incense burner and cover, Qianlong, illustrated by R.Keverne, ed., Jade, London, 1992, p.163, fig.89. A related spinach-green jade incense burner and cover, Qianlong, was sold at Bonhams London, 11 May 2017, lot 237.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
A very pale green jade archaistic vase, huQianlongOf flattened baluster shape, the wide central register carved with ridges imitating Western Zhou dynasty archaic bronze decoration, between key-fret borders also around the rims, and waisted lower section and neck each similarly decorated in relief with a whirl medallion flanked by archaistic C scrolls, the neck flanked by a pair of zoomorphic handles suspending loose rings, all raised on a conforming shaped spreading foot, the stone of event pale green tone. 20cm (7 7/8in) high.Footnotes:清乾隆 青白玉雕仿古活環雙耳壺Provenance: a Spanish private collection, and thence by descent來源：西班牙私人收藏，並由後人保存迄今For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
A pale green jade tripod incense burner and cover, dingQianlongSkilfully carved around the sides with archaistic motifs and taotie masks, flanked by a pair of auspicious bat handles, all supported on three short feet issuing from mythical beast-heads, the domed cover similarly decorated with taotie masks, surmounted by a circular dragon finial carved in openwork, the stone of pale green tone with milky inclusions. 21cm (8 1/4in) wide. (2).Footnotes:清乾隆 青白玉浮雕獸紋三足香薰Provenance: an English private collection來源：英國私人收藏This piece embodies the brilliant creativity of Qing craftsmen in its combination of contemporary and archaic motifs. Continuing the Song tradition of reinterpreting large archaic ritual bronzes into relatively small jade vessels, this incense burner is carved with the archaic taotie motif. In response to jade carving in the 18th century, characterised by decorative objects with ornate high-relief designs, the Qianlong emperor commissioned a large number of jades which were inspired by the forms and designs of antiquity. Jade carvers were encouraged to move away from the 'new style' by studying archaic bronze vessels in the Palace collection or in illustrated woodblock prints, and adapting them to the medium of jade. Inspired in both form and decoration by archaic bronze ding, this incense burner epitomises this trend.Compare with a related white jade incense burner and cover with archaistic taotie design, Qing dynasty, illustrated in the Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum: Jade, 10, Beijing, 2011, p.135, no.98.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
An archaistic spinach-green jade 'dragon and phoenix' vase, zunQianlongCrisply carved as a standing mythical bird with the head facing forward slightly to the right, carrying a hollowed vase incised with C-scrolls between a pair of upswept wings, a scaly dragon curled around behind the phoenix and the vase, the stone of dark olive-green tone with black flecks, silver-wire inlaid wood stand.10.2cm (3 1/2in) high. (2).Footnotes:清乾隆 碧玉雕龍鳳尊Provenance: a European private collection, and thence by descent來源：歐洲私人收藏，並由後人保存迄今The combination of the dragon and phoenix is from Daoism, and represents sagacity, long life and benevolence. A related 'dragon and phoenix' vase group from the Harvard University Art Museum, is illustrated in Chinese Art in Overseas Collections, Jade I, Taipei, 1981, no.153.The shape of the vase in the present group is in imitation of archaic bronzes, and archaistic jade carvings of the Song dynasty. A related white jade example, in the form of an archaic bronze gu of diamond cross-section, 18th century, also detailed with a dragon on the side of the vase, is illustrated by R.Kleiner, Chinese Jades from the Collection of Alan and Simone Hartman, Hong Kong, 1996, p.188, no.144, and later sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 28 November 2006, lot 1385.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: YY Subject to CITES regulations when exporting items outside of the EU, see clause 13.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Fine Quality Bronze Figure of a Victorian Rifle Volunteer 14 inch, bronze figure of a Rifle Volunteer wearing his shako with feather plume. Volunteer Rifles tunic. Belt with small percussion cap pouch and 1856 pattern sabre bayonet. Cross strap with large, lower ammunition pouch. Standing resting on his 1856 pattern, two band percussion rifle. Bronze base with faint signature set on a turned, black marble stand. Excellent figure.
A good and large Japanese Meiji period bronze jardinière and stand cast in one, profusely decorated with elephant masks, cranes, phoenix and further birds in relief against engraved detail, the upper section set with signed plaque featuring two cranes and tree in relief to base, height 61.5cm, internal diameter 25.3cm.Additional InformationGeneral surface wear with some scratches and scuffs, firing and manufacturing imperfections.
Three late 19th century Thai Buddhist hollow cast figures, the larger bronze height 15cm (missing item held in hands), the two smaller gilt metal with relief detail and twin loop attachments to reverse (3).Additional InformationBronze example missing accessory as stated, all with manufacturing and casting flaws, quite heavy general wear, some knocks and misshaping, rubbing to gilt, the smallest with loss to nose.
A mid-19th century French bronze and ormolu table lamp with foliate detailed fluted column on shaped base bearing satyr masks to four cast paw and compressed bun feet, height including fitment 50.8cm.Additional InformationSome nicks, nibbles and casting flaws; rubbing to gilt and general wear including pitting and build up of dirt.
A Japanese Meiji period bronze vase featuring wolves on rocky outcrop in relief against further engraved floral detail, engraved character mark to base, height 36cm.Additional InformationSome surface pitting, scratches and some casting/manufacturing imperfections. Slight knock to rim and some rubbing to finish.
A Japanese Meiji period bronze figure of an Oni with arm raised aloft and seated on a table with four scrolling legs, signed to base, height 33cm.Additional InformationOne legs is detached and has previously been glued in place. This is a very simple fix. His right hand is a little crude to the centre and may have been holding something, otherwise light surface wear throughout.
A 19th century Chinese floral decorated footed bowl, diameter 31cm (af), and a Japanese bronze vase, height 26cm.Additional InformationThe Chinese bowl is in poor condition, it has a crack running from the rim spurning two further cracks, has a star crack to the base which shows both front and back. Some staining to the centre of the bowl and losses to the paint work. The Japanese bronze vase has general surface pitting and surface scratches, neither piece is marked.
A pair of Japanese Meiji period bronze twin handled vases with foliate detail in relief, unmarked, height 33cm, a smaller pair featuring landscapes and figural detail to lower sections, height 16cm, and three further vases with relief detail, two featuring dragons and the taller with stamped mark to base, height 21.4cm.Additional InformationCasting flaws particularly to the three latter mentioned vases, one of these with numerous solder repairs, one with a hole, all these three with knocks and dents, general heavy wear, misshaping to rims, scratches and nicks and small losses to rims, the four vases mentioned first with general surface wear, some pitting, casting imperfections, slight misshaping to rims, nicks, etc.
An unusual novelty bronze call bell in the form of a bulldogs head, set upon a bronze plaque and having yellow glass eyes. The bell rings when its ears are pulled outwards wherein the bulldogs jaw simultaneously juts out. The bell has a fixture necessary to place it upon the wall. Measures 11.5cm in diameter.
A Japanese bronze group of two tigers, Meiji period, naturalistically modelled prowling by the side of a river, with glass inset eyes, the bronze a good colour throughout, the tiger's stripes well defined, signed with four character seal mark, on carved wood stand, the bronze 48cm, 54cm overallCondition report: The larger tiger missing its left eye.
Two Japanese ivory and bronze Kagamibuta, Meiji period, the centre cast in relief with Benten with gilt nimbus and a shi-shi, and Daruma holding a silver dice, each encased in an ivory frame, 5.6cm & 4.3cm diameter respectively.Condition report: The Kagimabuta featuring Benzaiten has three fine cracks issuing out from the rear himatoshi, two of which continue around the the bronze at the front, the third hairline crack is approximately 2cm long. The Daruma example has a wide crack at the rear which continues around to the bronze. There is a closed crack of approximately 1cm long on the opposing side. All cracks visible in the online images.
A Chinese silvered bronze circular 'lion and grapevine' mirror, Tang Dynasty,中国，铜镀银圆镜一个，唐代 cast with a central knop in the shape of a crouching lion, encircled by four further lions, all amidst scrolling grapevine, the outer circle with birds flying amongst fruiting grapevines, all framed by a small trefoil cloud border, 9.8cm diameterFootnote: For a similar Tang bronze mirror see Sotheby's, Fine Chinese Art, London, 9 June 1992, lot 13.
A Chinese bronze double lamp, Spring & Autumn period (771 - 476 BCE), the top with three zoomorphic legs on a stepped body with a side loop to the rim, the base with similar banded body with two opposing loops attached to the side, on circular foot, each interior with a central spike, 10cm diameter, 8.8cm highCondition report: The cover most likely had a second side loop with is now missing. Lots of verdigris and earth still attached. No signs of any obvious cracks, repairs or restorations. All early metalwares in this sale were part of a private collection formed over thirty years.
A Chinese bronze Xian, Han Dynasty,中国，青铜甗一件，汉代the upper section with a fixed dished plate, the interior of which with a band of relief cast decoration, above two applied dragons and with taotie mask and ring handles, within a relief cast archaic band, the lower compressed section with archaic band decoration and ring handles on three mask legs, 36cm overallCondition report: The plate sitting on the top is stuck fast to the body. There is a 9cm split to the underside where the base joins the sides, terminating in a 4cm split. The head of a dragon handle has partially deteriorated. There are other minor flaws but nothing too detrimental.
A large Chinese bronze steamer, Xian, Han Dynasty (206BC - 220AD), the upper bowl with an everted rim above a plain band with median line terminating in taotie masks with ring handles, the spherical base similarly decorated, with a steamer bowl with pierced grille, 37cm highFootnote: This item is illustrated in Allen's Authentication of Ancient Chinese Bronzes, figure 144, page 112
A Tibetan gilt bronze monk, 18th century, his face with traces of white enamel to the eyes and red to the mouth, the robe with geometric decorated borders, seated on a rectangular plinth with floret border, the front with lotus flower and scroll, 289g, 13cmCondition report: A small hole in the heel of his left palm.
A Chinese bronze censer, Qing, 19th century, the everted rim above string bands, with rams mask handles, on a circular foot, pseudo six character Xuande seal mark, 554 grams, 10.5cm diameter Condition report: A small old repair to the underside of the rim, showing a small shallow indent on the top of the rim. Some small knocks to the body, but otherwise in good condition.
A Chinese bronze gold splash incense burner, with slightly everted rim above a spherical body with scroll capped handles, on three short legs, archaic two character Xuande mark, 13.5cm high, approximately 15.5cm diameter excluding the handles, interior rim diameter 9.2cm, 2.674kgCondition report: No obvious faults
A Chinese bronze censer, possibly Ming,中国，青铜香炉一件，可能明代the body below a pair of sprung handles, on three stub feet, cast four character Xuande mark, 17cm, 1.619 kg, in later presentation caseCondition report: Other than numerous criss cross scratch marks on the underside there appear to be no obvious faults.
A Chinese bronze ritual wine vessel, You, possibly Han Dynasty, the loop handle with geometric decoration and snakehead terminals upon a swollen body with large Taotie masks to each side, the eyes in relief which may have held semi precious stones, on a circular foot with key and corcle decoration, 21.5cm
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