20 | A MINIATURE BRONZE BUCKET INLAID WITH SILVER AND GOLD Song dynasty 960-1279 AD China The vessel is of cauldron form with steep tapering sides. The circular base and first quarter are plain, above which are three bands with a design of scrolls and blades - in the archaistic manner. These designs are inlaid in silver and gold, and divided by four alternating raised and incised double lines. Cicada form mounts supporting a ring are fixed by a pin onto two sides of the pot, and receive a swinging loop handle that is finely inlaid on each side - with a gold line and a silver line. The interior is completely plain - though encrusted with a turquoise green patina that also appears on the exterior, and is in imitation of the buried archaic bronzes. Height: 1 7/8" / 4.7 cm Published: 'Chinese Art' by Soames Jenyns and William Watson, the minor arts - volume II, Oldbourne Press, London 1963, page 106 - no. 43. The miniature bucket was formally on loan - at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Provenance: Walter Sedgwick collection, London, and Krolik collection. Similar example: A silver bucket of this form is illustrated in Wenwu no 11, 1995. This piece was excavated at Yaling, Yichuan County, Henan province - from a tomb that is dated to 824 AD.