A bronze ‘hu’ vase inlaid with silver and gold
Ming dynasty, 17th century, China
Height: 43.5 x Width: 26 x Depth: 20 cm
Height: 17.13 x Width: 10.24 x Depth: 7.87 inches
The archaistic hu is of flattened pear-shaped form – standing on a waisted foot with flaring mouth, and flanked by zoomorphic masked loop handles. The decoration on the main body consists of raised intertwined straps terminating in dragon heads – the design bordered around the neck and foot by a single wide band containing a wave pattern, with dispersed cloud motifs.
