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54. LARGE ARCHAIZING BRONZE VASE, TOUHU
Ming dynasty, dated …
See original version (French)
54
-
54. LARGE ARCHAIZING BRONZE VASE, TOUHU
Ming dynasty, dated …
See original version (French)
Estimate €4,000 - €6,000
Voluntary lot
Description
54. LARGE ARCHAIZING BRONZE VASE, TOUHU
Ming dynasty, dated to the gengxu year (1550)
A RARE LARGE BRONZE ARCHAISTIC 'ARROW' VASE, TOUHU
Ming Dynasty, dated to the gengxu year (corresponding to 1550)
The compressed globular body supported on a splayed pedestal foot, rising to a tall cylindrical neck applied with two clambering qilong dragons and set with four attached tubular sections at the top and two shorter tubular sections angled at the sides, with four additional tubular sections around the body, the neck with an incised inscription reading da Ming gengxu nian zao.
54 cm (21 1/4 in.) high
Provenance:
Acquired from Georg Hartl, Munich, in 1972.
A German family collection.
明 庚戌年（1550年） 銅投壺
來源
於1972年得自慕尼黑 Georg Hartl
德國家族收藏
Vases such as the present lot were designed for the ancient Chinese game of touhu (投壺), or 'arrow-throwing', which would form part of the entertainment at banquets. Players took turns to throw arrows into vases with narrow tubular necks. The winner tossed all his arrows into the pot and the loser was made to drink wine, leading to increased inebriation and diminished throwing accuracy. In the Ming dynasty, the game became more widespread and was played by rich merchants and scholars as well as the aristocracy. A very similar arrow vase was sold in Bonhams London, 6 November 2014, lot 388.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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