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A rare and small inlaid bronze vessel in the shape of a bird


A rare and small inlaid bronze vessel in the shape of a bird

Lot-No. 44


China, Song-/Yuan-dynasty (960-1368). Bronze with gold and silver inlays, partly with brownish-green patina. Small vessel in the shape of a bird-like mythical creature with owl head. The head originally as the cover (later fixed to the body, reversible). The feathers and the head with rich ornamental relief, including several metal-inlays. At the back an additional figural inlay, probably also depicting a bird. The neck and the chest with fine lined scales-decoration. H. 20 cm. - Ritual bronze vessels in animal-shape belong to the artistic highlights of the Zhou-dynasty. The bird-shape of the present piece can be traced back to earlier Shang-dynasty bronzes. Compare to a very closely related owl-bronze in the coll. Of the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, dated in the Shang-dynasty (1200-1100 BC).

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A rare and small inlaid bronze vessel in the shape of a bird


A rare and small inlaid bronze vessel in the shape of a bird

Lot-No. 44

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China, Song-/Yuan-dynasty (960-1368). Bronze with gold and silver inlays, partly with brownish-green patina. Small vessel in the shape of a bird-like mythical creature with owl head. The head originally as the cover (later fixed to the body, reversible). The feathers and the head with rich ornamental relief, including several metal-inlays. At the back an additional figural inlay, probably also depicting a bird. The neck and the chest with fine lined scales-decoration. H. 20 cm. - Ritual bronze vessels in animal-shape belong to the artistic highlights of the Zhou-dynasty. The bird-shape of the present piece can be traced back to earlier Shang-dynasty bronzes. Compare to a very closely related owl-bronze in the coll. Of the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, dated in the Shang-dynasty (1200-1100 BC).

A rare and small inlaid bronze vessel in the shape of a bird
A rare and small inlaid bronze vessel in the shape of a bird