LARGE GILT BRONZE FIGURE OF
AVALOKITESVARA

Ming dynasty, 17th century
Height: 43.5 cm | 17 in

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The archaistic hu is of flattened pear-shaped form – standing on a waisted foot with flaring mouth, and flanked by zoomorphic mask loop handles. The decoration on the main body consists of raised intertwined straps terminating in dragon heads – the design bordered around the neck and foot by a single wide band containing a wave pattern, with dispersed cloud motifs. The raised areas are inlaid with scrolling silver wire and contrasting areas of broader infill, in gold and silver geometric forms. The vase is patinated to a mottled dark brown with simulated malachite encrustations, and the interior is inscribed in a type of seal script (that often appeared on Zhou period bronze vessels) – adding to the archaic feel of the piece.

Provenance: Lady Hesketh.

Similar examples: The Golden Age of Chinese Archaeology, Celebrated Discoveries from the People’s Republic of China, Yale University Press, 1999 – no.82. The hu vessel of the Middle Western Zhou period, 9th century BC is an approximate prototype – in terms of shape and decoration – for our archaistic version. The inlaid decoration is a feature that emerges in the later Warring States era, around 5th century BC.

Later Chinese Bronzes by Rose Kerr, Bamboo Publishing Ltd in association with the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1990 – plate nos. 40 and 41 illustrate archaistic vessels inlaid with gold and silver.

CIRAM thermoluminescence test no. 0508-0A-120R-1, taken from the core of this bronze, confirms the dating.