A DAMASCENED IRON BEER JUG, 18TH-19TH CENTURY

A DAMASCENED IRON BEER JUG, 18TH-19TH CENTURY
Tibet. The body is damascened in gold, copper and silver with Buddhist symbols alternated with lotus flowers surrounding a dragon amid clouds, all in the shape of a bi-disc. The brass handle is crafted in the form of a dragon while the spout issues from the head of a makara. The lid has a lotus finial.

Provenance: Le Singe Blanc, Paris, 28 December 1989. Madame H. Martinetti, Paris, France, acquired from the above for FRF 35.000 (approximately EURO €8.769 in today's money), and thence by descent in the family. Copies of the original invoice, related correspondence and certificate accompany this lot.
Condition: Good condition with extensive wear, casting flaws, small dents and nicks, and surface scratches. The chain that connects the lid with the handle is lost.

Weight: 2,681 g
Dimensions: Height 39.6 cm

This jug form, native to Central Asia, was probably adapted by Tibetan artisans from a Chinese model. Indeed, it combines typically Tibetan motifs, such as the dragon handle and the makara spout, with a Chinese dragon in the center encircled by Buddhist emblems of surrounding foliage. These ewers were made for domestic or ceremonial use.

To get the thin sheets of overlaid metal to adhere to the iron's surface, they are first roughened with chisel cuts, then applied with high pressure so that they are gripped by the ridges and furrows so created.

Literature comparison: A similar piece can be found in the Victoria and Albert Museum with the museum number IM.22-1928.

嵌金銀鉄酒壺，十八至十九世紀
西藏。鉄酒壺由金、銅和銀鑲嵌而成，可見佛教八吉祥與纏枝蓮紋、雲紋。 黃銅手柄成龍形，而壺嘴則從摩迦儸的頭部伸出。蓮花狀蓋鈕。

來源：巴黎Le Singe Blanc，1989年12月28日。法國巴黎H. Martinetti 夫人購於上述藝廊，價格當時為 FRF 35.000 (換算成現在大約爲EURO €8.769)，自此保存于同一家族至今。隨附原始發票複印件、相關信函以及證書。
品相：狀況良好，廣汎磨損，鑄造缺陷，小凹痕和刻痕以及表面劃痕。連接蓋子和手柄的鏈條丟失。

重量：2,681 克
尺寸：重量39.6厘米

文獻比較：一件相似酒壺見於Victoria and Albert Museum，收藏編號IM.22-1928。