
Olivia Xu
Associate Specialist
Sold for £10,240 inc. premium
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十七/十八世紀 銅灑金瓶
「宣德年製」篆書鑄款
The shape of the present lot may have been inspired by wannian guan, or 'myriad jars' that were popular during the Tang dynasty. Even the gold-splashes may be inspired by sancai-glazed splashes. Compare with a very similar gold-splashed bronze vase, Kangxi six-character mark and of the period, illustrated by R.Mowry, China's Renaissance in Bronze: the Robert H.Clague Collection of Later Chinese Bronzes 1100-1900, Phoenix, 1993, no.34. The author notes that 'because so many bronzes with gold-splashed decoration bears spurious Xuande marks, this Kangxi-marked vase is important in establishing the characteristics of the Kangxi style', see Ibid., p.168. See also a gold-splashed archaistic vase decorated with dragons, illustrated by Spink and Son Ltd., The Minor Arts of China, London, 1983, p.40, no.51, which was later sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 8 April 2013, lot 137; see also a related gilt-splashed bronze jar, Xuande mark, 17th/18th century, which was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 27 November 2019, lot 2866.