AN INSCRIBED ZITAN STAND OF A ZHOU BRONZE GU SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG

of circular section, the top hollowed with a groove encircling a slightly domed centre to fit its bronze gu, the rounded sides carved in relief with diagonal wavy leaf-form lappets, all supported on five feet, the base incised and filled in gilt with four characters reading Zhou leiwen gu followed by two single characters reading er (two) and yi (B Grade), flanking a recessed centre inscribed with a seal mark reading Qianlong yu jian (For the imperial appreciation of Qianlong)
16.5 cm, 6 1/2 in.

Provenance:
It is likely to be the fitted stand of a bronze gu vase, attributed to the Zhou dynasty and recorded in Xiqing gujian [Chinese ritual bronzes in the collection of Qianlong Emperor], vol. 24, p. 28 (fig. 1).