AN ARCHAISTIC BRONZE VASE, GU, YUAN DYNASTY

Massively cast bronze with décor in crisp relief, the surface patinated to a warm variegated brown tone

China, 13th-14th century

Of archaistic gu form, the square body robustly cast with a short, tapered central section, widely flaring to a trumpet mouth, all supported on a splayed foot. The upper section bordered with four archaistic cicada blades, below a key fret band, with a set of three massive flanges to each corner. The central section decorated with archaistic reliefs against a leiwen ground and set with a pair of flanges on each corner. The foot cast in relief with two pairs of stylized, confronting kui dragons against a leiwen ground, interrupted by another trio of raised flanges.

Shape: Gu
Weight: 2366 grams
Dimensions: Height 30,5 cm
Condition: Superb condition with only minor traces of wear
Provenance: South German private collection, in the family since the 1950ies

Auction result comparison: LATER CHINESE BRONZES FROM THE COLLECTION OF ULRICH HAUSMANN. Sotheby’s, 08 OCTOBER 2014, HONG KONG, lot 3310. (for a related bronze from the same period)

元代仿古銅方觚
大型銅雕，表面溫棕色漆
中國，13-14世紀
品相極好
德國私人收藏，1950年代家族傳承