Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Chinese: Metalwork (35)

Exceptionally rare cast iron bathtub. China 18° or before. The body is supported by four feet representing Buddhist lion heads. 4 large mobile rings fixed laterally allowed to move the object. The sides are decorated with large flowering plants in 3 cartouches, in the 4th there is nothing. I think there must have been a lacquer pattern in high relief, which has ,today,disappeared. In the past I have seen a cast iron stove with identical feet that had large lacquer "Bonji"characters, I attach a photo. There are modern fakes of identical shape and size, one of them has exactly the same decoration, which makes me think that there must be in China, somewhere, an identical model that served as an example,I attach the photo of the 2. These fakes are sold as being large temple censers? But the mine present has an evacuation at the bottom on the side that would logically be an outlet. A part of this outlet is broken, perhaps it was the head of an animal, Lion or dragon? The hypothesis that it is a child's bathtub is reinforced by the fact that bathtubs of these dimensions were used in China. I enclose a picture from the movie "The Last Emperor" where we can see the eunuchs giving the bath to the young emperor Pu-Yi (Xuan Tong) in a bathtub of identical shape and size.Look photo. State of conservation: The lacquer decoration of a cartouche missing. One ring replaced. The drain tap broken. Length 90cm. Weight about 60 to 80 kg to be checked.

An absolutely exceptional and unique object, a pagoda roof in cast bronze, very heavy, gilded and inlaid with glass paste. If there are some rare examples of Chinese gilded bronzes inlaid with hard stones and some even rarer inlaid with transparent glass, to my knowledge we do not know of any other inlaid with glass paste. Here the glass imitates perfectly the white jade, the lapis lazuli, the ruby, the green jadeite emerald. The use of glass paste in 18th century China is not a depreciative element, on the contrary, at that time it was easier and less expensive to cut stones. The gilding is with hot mercury. It is very thick of excellent quality, certainly many layers.The interior laquered in red gilded with gold powder. It is certainly an imperial order and the base is probably marked on the front, Kien-Long. The goal is to try to reunite the three elements that history has dispersed. Either by selling the roof or by buying the base and the column. Height: 12cm Diameter 14,5cm

An extremely rare gilt bronze folding sundial-compass. Enamel dial, details in glass beads. The metal is finely chiselled with elegant volutes and gilded in the oven using the technique of gold-mercury amalgam. Very beautiful thick gilding that has withstood wear and tear well over the centuries. Chinese work from the qianlong period towards the end of the 18th century.This type of scientific instruments ordered by the qianlong emperor, were manufactured in the workshops of the imperial palace, inside the forbidden city.There are in the collections of the palace 2 identical instruments, but smaller, worn, incomplete, and of less good quality. The one presented here is in perfect condition and has part of its original box. Length 16,5cm.

Small cast bronze tripod incense burner. Beautiful finish. The two handles are in the shape of Buddhist lions heads. Qing Chinese. The bottom of the feet slightly flared would rather suggest a Japanese Edo creation but without certainty. Dirty. Width 65mm

Cast and turned bronze vase. Decor of bamboo, rocks and Greek friezes incised and inlaid with silver wires. The bronze has a beautiful original patina. It lacks inlays that have come off over time. Probably china or vietnam 19th centurie. Height about 16cm. No restaure.

Small Buddhist lion in almost solid cast bronze. The object is heavy. Beautiful active and fierce expression. Details meticulously chiselled with precision. It is probably work from Vietnam or South China. A very beautiful bronze patina announces a 19th century period or before. Underneath there is no fastening mark, so it was not the grip button of a lid. Not a weight either because part of the underside is hollow. Hight: 6cm. Fine condition.

Cast bronze vase decorated with three handles in the form of masks of mythological creatures, carrying a trunk and large ears probably inspired by an elephant. The cast work is beautiful and the finish is neat. On the lower and upper edges, two very elegant Greek friezes are discreetly and finely incised in silver. The edge of the vase is slightly split, but you can still put water in it. A nice original patina confirms the age of the object, probably 19th century or earlier. China or Japan. Height about 16cm.

Kapala lid in embossed copper and gilded with mercury technic.Dimension: 96x103x35mm Good condition, slightly worn gilding on the reliefs. Beautiful old patina. Tibet 19th century or before.

Guanyin in cast bronze. The deity is represented standing, wearing a long dress, she holds a bottle in her hand. The bronze is very worn but has a superb old patina. Northern China Tang dynasty. 7th-9th century.It was soldered late with tin on a square bronze base so that it could stand upright. Height: 135mm

The vase is in yellow bronze. It appears to have been taken down with a hammer because it has thin walls, however it may have been cast. It is a very simple design object but of excellent quality, the proportions are perfect, the finishes are very careful. Artisans capable of producing a bronze of this fine quality would have been entirely capable of producing such a fine casting. This elegant simplicity makes us think of this very old vase, probably dating from the 17th century, or before, a magnificent old patina confirms this dating. The wide opening makes us think that it may be an incense burner. Height: 135x135mm.

Bronze pagoda cast in 3 parts. The bronze is very old, it has an excellent patina which makes me think it is from the Ming period or earlier. The casting is rustic, it has some defects. Probably a very old provincial work.The 4 sides of the pagoda are open with 4 doors with 2 bronze panels, opening and closing as needed. This makes a total of 8 panels for the 4 doors. 2 doors lead to 2 staircases with balusters. The whole being made in a very simple way, one can guess the work of twisting and modelling the hand-twisted waxes which served as a model before the casting. There is still a chain hanging from one corner, there must have been four corners, supporting as many bells now lost. No restoration, no hidden defects. The base was once riveted and reattached with 4 screws. Inside, there is still some cast refractory cement. All visible on photos. H: 31 cm. Weight 1760g

Pair of cast bronze cranes. The birds are fixed on rectangular bases, they carry a vase on their back and a ball in their beak. Sometimes these birds hold in their beak a flowering stem which ends in a candle holder, but here, examination with a magnifying glass reveals neither fracture nor grinding, it would seem that they are simply balls.Is this related to the funerary practice of placing a ball in the mouth of the deceased? A scholar must surely know what it is. Similarly, the vases are not hollowed out, which prevents the possibility of inserting incense sticks into them; they only have a decorative function. The cranes have an unusually fierce expression, the workmanship is rustic, the casting of the bronze has imperfections, and the chasing is weak. The patina is old. The bases are filled with lead to weight the birds and make them more stable. On the base you can see ferrous oxide stains because the inside of the legs is reinforced with iron rods, this is not a restoration but originally designed for the strength of the legs. Despite the rusticity (or thanks to it) there emerges a peaceful force from these 2 small statuettes. The vases were separated and resoldered with tin. Probably Chinese work from the Qing period or much earlier. Height: 17cm.

Cast bronze incense burner, supported by three feet, on the sides, two Buddhist lions form the handles. The object was not cast in one go, indeed the handles and the feet were cast separately and welded, which for the feet is unusual. This seems to announce a lack of technique due to modest provincial craftsmen working in isolated regions. The bronze has casting defects, holes and burrs and the finishes are sketchy. However, despite its rusticity, the object is interesting, this is due to the power of the lions and a beautiful patina of old oxidation. Difficult to date and locate. Probably Chinese work, but could it be Vietnamese? Undoubtedly old at least from the 18th century but probably well before. Wide: 190mm High: 95mm

A cast bronze censer representing a mandarin duck. Beautiful cast and excellent neat finish. Missing the cover and a broken leg lost and replaced. The bronze is covered with a beautiful old patina certifying the object 19th or before. Qing or Edo period. Long 17cm.

Pair of cast bronze incense holders. The lower part is a tripod composed of 3 dragon heads. The upper part is a lotus leaf and 3 buds. In the center of the sheet is welded a hollow rod that can contain an incense stick. The cast bronze has defects. A beautiful old patina attests to a great age of several centuries. A broken foot is reattached. A label bears the number 37 without any other reference, but we do not know which collection it is. Height:29cm. 17th century or earlier. Probably Chinese.

The vase is cast in one piece. Inspired by archaic Chinese bronze ritual vessels, it bears a Taotie mask decoration. This decoration is reduced to two narrow bands instead of occupying more space as usually on the bronzes of the Ming period, this more austere character, the slender shape and the patina with a much more antique aspect allows us to think so. older, probably from the Song period or earlier. The base split on one side as shown in the photos. No welding, no hammering, no restoration. Below an antique verdigris patina. Height:26cm.

Cast bronze incense burner. Rectangular shape, 4 feet, decoration of sacred pearls framed by stylized dragons, Greek friezes. Each of the feet comes out of the mouth of a Buddhist lion. The walls are very thick, the object is heavy. Lost wax casting has defects. The carving is not of high quality. No mark. However, this incense burner is powerful and has a very beautiful old patina, which makes it a venerable object with a strong presence. Probably Chinese work. Period 18th century or earlier. Height: 29cm. No restaure.

An amusing and very rare lantern in cast bronze, decorated in light relief with stylized cicada in the archaic style. The rear part cut out by crosses the front part open for the use of candles or oil lamp. The cast iron is of good quality and the finish is neat. The patina is very beautiful and guarantees the age of the object. I think it's a Chinese work but I have a doubt, it could be Japanese. If it's Japanese it is much rarer although less fashionable than Chinese. The simplicity, the powerful shape and the beautiful patina remind me of the Chinese Ming period which would correspond to the Japanese Muromachi-Momoyama period. 16-17th century. 155 x 85 mm. Weigth: 450g Fine condition.