Prince Kung Rare Inlaid Archaistic Bronze Vessel, Han type cast having tapering sides rising from a flat foot to round shoulders, contracted neck and flaring rim, having serrated border of triangular Lappet bands on the shoulder and foot. The body decorated with a dense modified Leiwen ground stud with turquoise boss inlays, malachite oxidation, Han type attributed to a succeeding period, diameter 11 1/2 inches.

We have matched this bronze by photo, scan and analyzed via expert opinion to the original photo from 1913.

The Prince Kung Vessel mirrors the design of Eastern Zhou through Han dynasties "pou ritual vessels”. There are only several examples of this design, one of which can be found in the collection of the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco (acc. No. B60B1031). This lot is one of two known recorded examples having been cast with an inscription.

Provenance: Originating from Imperial Prince Kung of China, this vessel was sold at auction in "The Prince Kung Collection" at the American Art Galleries auction in Madison Square South New York, February 27th and 28th, 1913, Item #306.

The vessel sold for $1,550 to W.W. Seaman agent, acting as an agent for a private client. W.W. Seaman agent is listed as buyer of 66 pieces in "The Prince Kung Collection” catalogue including this vessel.

Through research and family information, we have found that Homer Pace who founded Pace College in 1906 (later Pace University) in New York City and was the first President of the College probably bought the vessel.

Upon Homer Pace's death in 1942, his son Robert Pace who became Pace University's second President is believed to have inherited the vessel from his father. Family information shows that Robert then gifted the vessel to his sister in law Mae Neville sometime near the end of World War II.

In 1969 or 1970, Mae Neville then gave the vessel to her friend Elinor Murray where it has resided until the present time.

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