A rare bronze tapir stand, Song to Ming dynasty. Photo Bonhams

Cast with hollowed interior visible from the circular enclosure at back, the animal with its head raised high and ears swept backwards, the collared neck above four stumped hoofed feet, decorated with spiral and archaistic motifs, all ending in a short tail, original zitan stand. 7.8cm long. (2). Estimate US$ 6,400 - 10,000

Notes: The finely carved zitan stand on this miniature treasure demonstatates that it was revered during the Qing dynasty. For a similar example, see a bronze animal with hooves and elongated ears, but with inlaid gold and silver, preserved in the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, acquired by the museum through Salting Bequest in 1927, see Rose Kerr, Later Chinese Bronzes, London, 1990, p.50, pl.40. See also another closely related example of an archaistic tapir in the Water, Pine and Stone Retreat collection, illustrated by Gerard Tsang and Hugh Moss, Arts from the Scholar's Studio Fung Ping Shan Museum, University of Hong Kong, 1986, cat. no.127, and recently sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 8 April 2013, lot 171.

Bonhams. 26 May 2013. Hong Kong. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art