bronze

Lot 26. A pair of archaic bronze square wine vessels, fang hu, Han dynasty (206 BC-220 AD); 16 1/2in (41.8cm) high; 8 7/16in (21.5cm) wide (2). Sold for US$15,300 (Estimate US$2,000 - 3,000). © Bonhams 2001-2023 Each in pear-shaped silhouette raised on square high foot, the mouth flaring slightly with a raised border, cast on the shoulders a pair of taotie masks and suspended ring handles, the surface showing golden-tan colors of uncorroded bronze interspersed with malachite and... [Lire la suite]

Lot 8. An ancient bronze footed brazier, Liao dynasty (907-1125); 10in (25.4cm) diam. Sold for US$7,012.50 (Estimate US$1,500 - 2,000). © Bonhams 2001-2023 The shallow circular basin with flared flat rim supported by four feline clawed feet each emerging from a horned beast mask riveted to the sides, the bronze tarnished and covered with green malachite encrustations. Note: Compare the closely related braziers depicted on murals of Liao dynasty tombs in Xiabai village, Xuanhua district, Zhangjiakou,... [Lire la suite]

Lot 818. A bronze octafoil mirror, Song dynasty (960-1279); 6 in. (15.2 cm.) diam., composite stand. Estimate USD 4,000 – USD 6,000. Price realised USD 11,340. © Christie's 2023 The mirror is cast with a central knob and a scene of Bodhidharma standing on a reed while navigating wind-blown waves and holding his hat, opposite a temple which emerges from a water spout that rises from a dragon’s mouth, all enclosed by the barbed and lobed edge. The reverse is plain and the silvery-grey surface has... [Lire la suite]

  Lot 814. A bronze bottle vase, Tang dynasty (618-907); 7 3/4 in. (19.7 cm.) high. Estimate USD 12,000 – USD 18,000. Price realised USD 16,380. © Christie's 2023 The vase has an ovoid body surmounted by a slender neck rising to a flared rim, and has a silvery black patina with cuprite and malachite encrustation. Provenance: J. J. Lally & Co., New York, no. 4885. Note: Vases of this shape, known as ambrosia vases, were often shown in Buddhist images and sculpture carried by... [Lire la suite]

Lot 813. A bronze basin, Tang dynasty (618-907); 8 3/4 in. (22.2 cm.) diam., cloth box. Estimate USD 5,000 – USD 7,000. Price realised USD 3,780. © Christie's 2023 The shallow basin has steep sides with a flat base and has a smooth green patina with patches of malachite encrustation. Provenance: Acquired in Hong Kong, 1999.J. J. Lally & Co., New York, no. 3093. Note: A bronze basin of very similar form unearthed in 1957 from a Sui dynasty tomb located in the outskirts of Xi’an, is... [Lire la suite]

Lot 810. A small bronze jar and cover, Tang dynasty (618-907); 3 in. (7.6 cm.) high, cloth box. Estimate USD 5,000 – USD 7,000. Unsold. © Christie's 2023 The ovoid jar has a flat base and the high shoulders are cast with three double lines. The slightly domed cover has matching double line bands and is surmounted by a bud finial. Both have a scattered reddish-brown patina with areas of malachite encrustation. Provenance: J. J. Lally & Co., New York, no. 4623. Note: A similar small... [Lire la suite]

Lot 809. A group of five bronze coins, Xin dynasty (9-24) and Tang dynasty (618-907); Knife coin: 3 in. (7.6 cm.) long, cloth box; Each circular coin: 1 in. (2.5 cm.) diam. Estimate USD 1,500 – USD 2,000. Price realised USD 10,710. © Christie's 2023 The knife coin, Xin dynasty (AD 9-24), is inscribed on one side with an inscription that reads yi dao ping wu qian (one knife is worth five thousand), with the first two characters inlaid in gold on the circular ring and the... [Lire la suite]

Lot 801. A bronze ritual tripod food vessel, ding, late Shang dynasty, Anyang, 12th-11th century BC; 9 1/4 in. (23.5 cm.) high. Estimate USD 80,000 – USD 100,000. Price realised USD 75,600. © Christie’s 2023 The deep body is raised on three columnar legs and is cast with a band of circular bosses alternating with kui dragons below the everted rim set with a pair of bail handles. The patina is of mottled olive-green color with areas of malachite encrustation on the... [Lire la suite]

Lot 3051. A bronze 'elephant' lamp, Song dynasty (960-1279); h. 32.5 cm, Japanese wood box, with 1 X-ray. Lot sold: 100,800 HKD (Estimate: 80,000 - 120,000 HKD). © 2023 Sotheby's. Provenance: Acquired in Japan, early 2000s, by repute. Lot 3055. A gilt-silver comb and a bronze hand mirror, Song dynasty (960-1279); 13.8 and 22.3 cm. Lot sold: 7,560 HKD (Estimate: 10,000 - 15,000 HKD). © 2023 Sotheby's. ... [Lire la suite]

Lot 3005. A pair of bronze 'chimera' weights, Han dynasty (206 BC-220 AD); d. 7.8 cm. Lot sold: 378,000 HKD (Estimate: 300,000 - 400,000 HKD). © 2023 Sotheby's. with an iridescent sheen to the metal surface. Provenance: Acquired in Japan, 1990s, by repute. Note: The present weights are cast in the form of a chimaera, generally known as bixie (literally 'to avert evil spirits'), standing on a mountainous rock base. For related weights, see an Eastern Han... [Lire la suite]