Antique Chinese Bronze Gu Form Vase

Item Details

An antique Chinese bronze square gu form vase. The vessel borrows from the forms and styles of Shang and Zhou dynasty ritual bronzes. The diamond shaped vase displays taotie mask forms against leiwen stylized cloud motifs and repeated crenelations throughout. The piece rests atop a hand carved teakwood base. Unmarked, the bronze is attributed to the late Ming (1368-1644) or early Qing dynasty (1644-1911). The underside is marked with a previous museum inventory number ‘1938.0347’, alongside an affixed paper label.

Provenance
Collected in the late 19th and early 20th century and donated to a Private Midwestern Institution in 1938
Sold to enhance and preserve the Institution’s mission-relevant Collections

Condition

- damage with non-period solder repair applied to one side; minor damage to teakwood stand; museum marks present on item

Dimensions

Item #

17COL077-080