A LOBED BRONZE ‘CHILONG’ VASE, CHINA, 17TH CENTURY
Of elegant baluster form, the eight-lobed vase heavily cast with a spreading foot, rounded shoulder, waisted neck, and galleried rim, flanked by two openworked and neatly incised handles modeled as chilong clambering up the vase in dynamic poses, their long furcated tails trailing behind. The bronze with a fine, smooth, chocolate-brown patina.


Provenance:
Formerly in the collection of Monsieur B., managing director of Le Bon Marché, Paris, in the early 20th century, and thence by descent in the same family. Founded in 1838 by the Boucicaut family, Le Bon Marché is a department store run by a partnership of top managers that continued the "family" culture of the business even after the death of the original founders.

Condition:
Good condition with expected old wear and some casting irregularities, small nicks, and light scratches.

Weight: 3,540 g
Dimensions: Height 29.8 cm


Literature comparison:

Compare a closely related vase with chilong handles, dated to the late Ming dynasty, in the Milwaukee Public Museum.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 3 December 2015, lot 330
Price: HKD 50,000 or approx.
EUR 6,800
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A bronze lobed vase, Ming dynasty, 17th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related (albeit twelve-lobed) form, chilong handles, and chocolate-brown patina.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Bonhams San Francisco, 19 December 2016, lot 8221
Price: USD 11,250 or approx.
EUR 13,000
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A tall bronze baluster vase with opposing dragon handles, 17th/18th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form (albeit with more lobes than the present lot) and chilong handles. Note the larger size (52.7 cm).




十七世紀花口螭龍銅瓶

八瓣花口瓶造型優雅，平足，溜肩，收腰，瓶身修長；肩部兩側分別攀爬著一條螭龍，長長的分叉尾巴，動感十足。銅色細膩，天然褐色包漿。


來源：
二十世紀初巴黎Le Bon 3月é 董事總經理 B. 先生的收藏，源自同一家族。 Le Bon 3月é 由 Boucicaut 家族 1838 年創立，是一家由高層管理人員合夥經營的百貨公司，即使在原始創始人去世後，該公司仍延續了企業的“家族”文化。

品相：
狀況良好，有磨損和一些鑄造不規則、小刻痕和輕微劃痕。

重量：3,540 克
尺寸：高29.8 厘米


文獻比較：

比較一件非常相近的明末螭龍雙耳瓶，收藏於Milwaukee公立博物館。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：非常相近
拍賣：香港蘇富比，2015年12月3日，lot 330
價格：HKD 50,000（相當於今日
EUR 6,800
）
描述：明十七世紀銅瓜棱形龍耳瓶
專家評論：比較非常相近 (儘管十二瓣)的外形，螭龍雙耳、巧克力色包漿。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：舊金山邦翰斯，2016年12月19日，lot 8221
價格：USD 11,250（相當於今日
EUR 13,000
）
描述：十七至十八世紀青銅龍柄花瓶
專家評論：比較非常相近的外形 (儘管比現在更多瓣) 、螭龍雙耳。請注意尺寸較大 (52.7 厘米)。