A PARCEL-GILT AND SILVER-INLAID ‘CARDINAL POINTS’... Lot n° 441

China, 1368-1644. The pear-shaped bronze body is divided into four equal sections, indicating the four cardinal points, all distinctively highlighted with fine gold and silver inlays. Rising from a splayed foot to a waisted neck and flared rim, flanked by a pair of loop handles shaped as birds of prey. Provenance: British private collection. Condition: Excellent condition with minor casting flaws, some wear to gilt and silver inlays, minuscule nicks and occasional light scratches, malachite-green encrustations to the interior. Old central piercing to base for mounting as a lamp. Weight: 3,383 g Dimensions: Height 32.2 cm The neck with a band of stiff leaves below a band of archaistic bird motifs on a leiwen ground, the shoulder with a band of taotie masks on a leiwen ground. Four-character inscription to base. Literature comparison: A larger vase in the Musée Cernuschi is illustrated in Michel Maucuer, Bronzes de la Chine impériale des Song aux Qing, Paris, 2013, pl. 53, together with one decorated with a related motif, pl. 55. Auction result comparison: Compare with a related silver-inlaid and gilt-embellished hu of 75 cm from the 17th or 19th century at Christie’s London in Chinese Ceramics, Works of Art and Textiles on 15 May 2015, lot 720, sold for GBP 10,000. 明代錯金銀雙耳壺 中國，1368-1644年。梨形銅器主體分為四個相等的部分，表示四個基本點，所有這些點均以精美的金和銀鑲嵌物突出顯示。一對鳥形耳。 來源： 英國私人收藏 品相：狀況極佳，鑄造缺陷較小，錯金銀鑲嵌物有些磨損，刻痕極少，偶爾有輕微划痕，內部綠色結殼。 底座中央舊時穿孔作為燈使用。 重量： 3,383 克 尺寸： 高 32.2 厘米 拍賣結果比較：比較一件17世紀或19世紀相似的75厘米鍍金銀壺， 於2015年5月15 日在倫敦佳士得舉行的Chinese Ceramics, Works of Art and Textiles拍場，拍號 720，成交價GBP 10,000。