Chinese
Bronze Ritual Food Vessel
Fang Ding Rectangular
Caldron Dated: Jiajing
Reign, Ming Dynasty, 1534 AD H
6 in.(15cm), W 7 in.(18cm), D 4 in.(10cm) The
rich and crisp interlocking figures decorating this small vessel are among the
finest of its kind. The dense design includes two dragons frolicking among fire
motifs on both sides of the vessel, and in the back is another pair of dragons
playing with the pearl of wisdom. The predominating figure centered on the front
panel is the Historic Buddha Shakyamuni, sitting above a bridge over the lotus
pond, franking to his sides are two fairies entwined in swirl of clouds, directly
below them are four birds of paradise, still, less obvious are two more lohan
that stood just above the legs of the vessel, and the one to the left is visibly
a two headed figure. |
Click on Image for Enlargement
| By
virtue of its highly intricate design and artistry, this well cast censer, or
ritual food vessel is a remarkable find. From a rectangular opening gradually
morphed into a soft corner round edged vessel, supported on four legs in the form
of finely modeled waves spiting monsters, with two wing-like outward flanking
handles, the shape of this vessel shows variant of structural eloquence, which
often can be attributed to the Late Zhou dynasty, around the Warring States period
(475-221 B.C.). However, the quality of the bronze and its intricate Buddhist
theme points to a much later time. There is also an eighteen characters inscription
at the basin, which clearly stated the vessel was made in the 16th century: On
the eighth day of fourth month, twelve year of Jiajing reign, made by Buddhist
faithful Ma-shuihan clan | |
Private Collection | |
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