#1045 Very Large Chinese Archaic Style Bronze Hu Vase Ming Dynasty 1368-1644 **Price on Request 售价待询**

A massive bronze (copper tin alloy) vase cast in Han dynasty Hu shape and with Han style Taotie mask handles. The archaistic style decoration is an amalgam of Shang and Zhou dynasty motifs. These consist of upper and lower bands depicting stylized dragons and a central band of large Taotie ("monster"} masks. All are reserved against a flattened Leiwen (cloud) daiper ground. Below the upper two horizontal bands are pendent 'Cicida Blades'.

An accompanying 1973 British Museum letter suggests an 18th/19th Century dating but more recent scholarship has confirmed that this item was made earlier, during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644).

For a slightly smaller Ming vase of this shape, please view Lot 391, Sotheby's New York 18 March 2015; for a Ming dynasty archaistic bronze bell, with similar decoration, please view Lot 812, Sotheby.s New York, 21 March 2015

Condition - there are typical old repairs and losses, particularly to the base (please view enlargements).

49.5cm (19.5 inches) high.

Weight 8.9kg (19.6lb).

明代饕餮纹兽耳环大铜壶

整体汉代铜壶形制。仿古花纹兼有商周之风：上下两圈云雷纹背景上各有夔龙纹和饕餮纹，两圈下各有一圈蝉纹装饰。
此壶有一封1973年大英博物馆的鉴定信，将这件定为18/19世纪。但是，近期的学术研究证明此间应做于稍早时间——明代。 相似但略小之例，请参见2015年3月18日纽约苏富比所拍第391号拍品。另可参见2015年3月21日纽约苏富比所拍一件明代同类纹饰铜铃（第812号拍品）。
品相：有老修和缺失，尤其是底部（见图）。
高49.5厘米。重8.9公斤。