Bronze. China, in the style of Dian, possibly Western Han Dynasty (2nd - 1st cent. BC)
A vessel cast in the archaistic form of Zun, the mid-section of compressed globular shape, raised on a flared foot, with cupped mouth rim and small spout; decorated on the projected mid-section with a pair of oxen, bearing horns, the heads risen and with spirited eyes; The vessel with flat base and with smooth surface; bearing shiny silvery luster and spare patina (green and red patches) due to increased content of zinc in the alloy, somewhat corroded, encrustations, good condition in terms of age. é’銅牛紋壺. 中國, 滇文化風格, 約西漢代 (å…¬å…ƒå‰ 206年至公元25 å¹´). 高 20.2 厘米.
HEIGHT 20,2 CM
From a German private collection
Note: The Dian Kingdom was occupied by the Han people during the period of the Western Han. It is geographically located in the region of today’s Yunnan (South China) near the capital Kunming and Dian lake. Being mentioned already by the Han historian Sima Qian, a detailed view of the culture was only given by rich excavations as of 1955.