A rare set of archaic miniature ritual bronze vessel, Han Dynasty
Lot 468. A rare set of archaic miniature ritual bronze vessel, Han Dynasty. The stove 22cm ( 8 5/8in) long. Estimate £6,000 - £8,000. Sold for £ 12,112 (€ 14,131). © Bonhams
Comprising a stove, zao, the boat-shaped vessel on four small feet, incorporating a steamer, zeng, two bowls and two spoons; a warming bowl; a footed lamp, decorated with mountains on the spreading foot, with a long curved handle issuing from the shallow bowl; two pear-shaped vases, hu, and covers, one of which of square section; a pear-shaped vase; a footed 'mountain' incense burner and reticulated cover, boshanlu; and a circular tripod food vessel and cover, ding, the vessel with a pair of rectangular upright loop handles, the domed cover with three short handles doubling as feet in the shape of stylised dragons.
Published, Illustrated and Exhibited: Roger Keverne Ltd., Summer Exhibition, London, 2002, no.11.
Note: It is rare to find such a complete set of ritual vessels. See a bronze set from Tomb 42 at Jinyanggang (Luoyang, Henan Province), in the collection of the Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, illustrated in Han Dynasty: New Light on Ancient China after 2000 Years, Osaka, 1999, p.70, no.51; and another example in the collection of Museé Cernuschi, Paris, published by C.Deydier, Chinese Bronzes, New York, 1980, p.131, no.100.
Bonhams. Roger Keverne Ltd Moving On (Part II), London, New Bond Street, 7 Jun 2021