SALE Chinese Western Han Dynasty Cylindrical Bronze Box

This vessel dates to the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). The cylindrical body has two taotie (monster) head fixtures to which are attached rings, twisted bronze double links and the carrying handle. The cover is dome-shaped with its own ring. Vessels of this general form evolved from earlier wooden vessels made during the Eastern Zhou period that were made from bending a thin sheet of wood into a circle that were held together by circular bindings. The decorative ridges to the bottom, middle and top of this vessel emulate such bindings.

Height 26 cm (10.25 inches). Condition is very good. Overall the vessel is quite heavily cast. Although not immediately obvious, when looking inside the vessel against a light, there are a few pin holes where the metal has corroded and thinned, mostly around the rim but also a couple to the body around its mid-point, but there is no obvious sign of repair.

This has come from a private English collection established during the 1980s & 90s and we understand it was purchased in Hong Kong during this period.

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