A pair of archaistic bronze Hu vases, presumably Warring States/Han dynasty (481 B.C. - 220 A.D.)
With a pear-shaped body encircled by four ribs, a pair of loop handles fashioned as flanged dragons, the covers with six petal-shaped flanges radiating outwards, each incised with bracket scrolls. Height 35,5 cm.
Tarnished, surface dirt. Damages to foot rings. One with damage to the body.
Literature
The unusual and rare bronze covers are discussed by Gyllensvärd 'The First Floral Pattern on Chinese Bronzes' B:M:F:E:A. Stockholm, no 34. 1962, pp 29-47, where he illustrates similarly shaped hu in a line drawing, fig. 20, as well as seeral vessels of related form but with more intricate decoration. pls. VII and VIII.
More information
These unusual and rare bonze covers are discussed by Gyllensvärd, 'The First Floral Pattern on Chinese Bronzes', B.M.F.E.A., Stockholm, no 34, 1962,pp. 29-47, where he illustrates a similar shaped hu in a line drawing, fig 20, as well as several vessels of related form but with more intricate decoration, pls. VII and VII.