A QILIN-HANDLED VASE, HU, SONG TO YUAN DYNASTY

A QILIN-HANDLED BRONZE VASE, HU, SONG TO YUAN DYNASTY
China, 960-1368. The archaistic vessel with a rounded rectangular mouth and a pear-shaped body raised on a pedestal foot. Cast to the shoulder with two bands, one finely incised with taotie masks over a circumferential key fret pattern, the other with rhombus and swirl patterns.

Provenance: Acquired at Parke-Bernet Galleries New York in Oriental Art on 19-20 February 1953, lot 171, by Mrs. J. Gavoty and thence by descent, previously owned by richard M. Vaughan. A photocopy of the original Parke-Bernet invoice made out to Mrs. Gavoty accompanies this lot.
Condition: Good condition with a fine dark patina and some reddish-brown patinated areas, some verdigris and encrustations on the interior and the base, two minor dings on the body, a small nick on the neck and minor casting flaws.

Weight: 2,103 g
Dimensions: Height 30.9 cm

Note the superbly cast handles in the form of qilin heads with wavy manes, fangs and horns, wide nostrils, and lingzhi-shaped (!) eyebrows, a rare and appealing addition to such a vase.

Auction result comparison: Compare with a related vase with elephant handles sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong in Later Chinese Bronzes from the Collection of Ulrich Hausmann on 8 October 2014, lot 3343, for HKD $325,000 incl. buyer's premium.

青銅獸面麒麟雙耳壺，宋至元代
中國， 960-1368。壺嘴圓角矩形，梨形壺身。肩部麒麟雙耳，頸部獸面紋帶，其下則是帶有菱形和漩渦形圖紋。

來源：Mrs. J. Gavoty 1953年2月19-20日購於紐約Parke-Bernet 藝廊，拍號171，自此保存至今。之前為Richard M. Vaughan所有。附Parke-Bernet 給Mrs. Gavoty的發票複印件。
品相：品相良好，深色包漿，局部呈紅棕色，壺内核底部局部有銅綠和結殼，壺身有兩道輕微凹痕，頸部一道小刻痕，輕微鑄造缺陷。

重量：2,103 克
尺寸：高30.9 厘米

拍賣結果比較：一件象首尊2014年10月8日于香港蘇富比《尚古吉金：未了情園典藏青銅器》拍號3343，成交價HKD $325,000 含買家佣金。