Large Qing Dynasty Carved Wood Champion Vase
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A large archaistic carved wood 'champion' vase late Qing Dynasty, the wood resembling agarwood, in the form of a pair of cylindrical vessels, each carved with two broad friezes of archaistic wavy bands and scrolls on a lei wen ground, supported on splayed feet and centred with a stylised phoenix standing on the head of a crouching lion, its angular scroll wings displayed over both vases, the reverse with an archaic style mythical beast forMing the loop handle, an incised rectangular seal mark on its tail, supported on the protruding hind quarters of the lion, an inscription around the mouth rims and above the foot on one side below an incised double gourd mark, 50.3 cm high. Other Notes: The size of this champion vase is rare. An example in bronze in the Victoria and Albert Museum is illustrated by Rose Kerr, Later Chinese Bronzes, London 1990, fig. 57 where she states the vessel was probably assembled in the Song to early Ming period from seven or more pieces including two Han dynasty tubular chariot fittings. This may explain the intriguing composite form of the 'champion' vase which was popular during the Ming and Qing., See also a large bronze champion vase with similar decoration dated to the Ming dynasty, A Pilgrimage to the Ten Directions, Treasures from Chinese Buddhist Temples, no. 26, p.131, sold Marchant: Nine Decades in Chinese Art, Christie's, New York, 14 September 2017, lot 712
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- Incised - A record of a name, date or inscription, or a decoration scratched into a surface, usually of a glass or ceramic item with a blunt instrument to make a coarse indentation. Compare with engraving where the surface is cut with a sharp instrument such as a metal needle or rotating tool to achieve a fine indentation.
- Ming Dynasty - The Ming Dynasty was a ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644. It succeeded the Yuan Dynasty and preceded the Qing Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty was established by Zhu Yuanzhang, a former Buddhist monk who became a rebel leader and eventually overthrew the Mongol Yuan Dynasty. During the Ming Dynasty, China experienced a period of relative stability and prosperity. The government was centralized and bureaucratic, with the emperor at the top of the hierarchy. The Ming Dynasty is known for its cultural achievements, including the development of porcelain, the invention of movable type printing, and the construction of the Great Wall of China.
- Qing Dynasty - The Qing Dynasty was the last imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912. It was established by the Manchu people, who originated from the northeastern region of China. The Qing Dynasty was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China.
- Bronze - An alloy of copper and tin, traditionally in the proportions of about 9 parts of copper to 1 part of tin.
The discovery of bronze in Western Asia in the 4th century enabled people to create metal objects which were superior to those previoulsy possible because of its strength and hardness, and it has been used throughout the world for weapons, coins, tools, statuary and other decorative items.
It is very fluid in a molten state, and its hardness, strength when set, and non-corrosive properties makes it most suitable for casting sculpture.
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