An archaistic rhinoceros horn pouring vessel, Gong, Qing dynasty, 18th century, carved in the form of an archaic bronze vessel, the mouth surrounded by a flared flange, one side with a gently curved spout the other set with a broad strap handle rising from the base, carved in relief with C-scroll motifs, the sides encircled with a wide band of kui dragons in relief on a finely defined leiwen ground, the horn of rich amber tone, 14.5 cm wide. Provenance: Sotheby's, London, 13 February, 1966, lot 1, The Zorich Collection, Adelaide, acquired from the above . Rhinoceros horn cups carved with archaistic decoration were favoured for their association with ancient artifacts that were historically collected by the nobility in China. The fashion for archaism began in the Song Dynasty and led to pattern manuals and books being produced that contained designs that were copied on works of art in different media.
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- Qing Dynasty - The Qing Dynasty was the last imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912. It was established by the Manchu people, who originated from the northeastern region of China. The Qing Dynasty was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China.
- Song Dynasty - The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China from 960 to 1279 AD. It was divided into two periods, the Northern Song (960?1127) and the Southern Song (1127?1279). The emperor was the ultimate authority, but he relied on officials who were selected based on their merit and skills rather than their family background or social status. The Song Dynasty was a period of great artistic and cultural achievements, particularly in the areas of poetry, painting, and calligraphy. The Chinese invented the printing press during this period, which revolutionized the spread of knowledge and ideas. During the Song Dynasty, China had a prosperous economy and was a centre of international trade, particularly in luxury goods such as silk, tea, and porcelain. The use of paper money became more widespread during this period, facilitating commerce and trade.
- Bronze - An alloy of copper and tin, traditionally in the proportions of about 9 parts of copper to 1 part of tin.
The discovery of bronze in Western Asia in the 4th century enabled people to create metal objects which were superior to those previoulsy possible because of its strength and hardness, and it has been used throughout the world for weapons, coins, tools, statuary and other decorative items.
It is very fluid in a molten state, and its hardness, strength when set, and non-corrosive properties makes it most suitable for casting sculpture.
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