Pair of Han Dynasty Bronze Plum Vases Incised with Scroll Grass Motifs, Han Dynasty, 2nd Century BCE – 2nd Century CE

拍品描述

Dimensions: Each vase is 20.5 cm (8.07 inches) tall; a complete pair of matching vessels. Condition and Provenance: Both vases are structurally intact, without cracks, repairs, or damage; the mouths, bodies, and feet are all well-preserved. The surfaces exhibit a natural burial patina, mixed with orange-ochre soil crust and malachite green patina, deeply embedded in the bronze matrix and accompanied by layered organic growth, without acid washing or artificial pigment treatment. The shallowly engraved cloud and grass patterns on the vases are clear and smooth, without severe corrosion blurring. The flat bases are covered with untreated ancient soil deposits, without excessive cleaning or polishing. The two vases form a complete original matching set, identical in shape and symmetrical in decoration. This pair of bronze plum vases was unearthed from a Han Dynasty tomb in Central China, circulated through a Hong Kong antique dealer decades ago, and is now owned by a private bronze collector residing in Los Angeles, California, USA. Description: This lot comprises a pair of Han Dynasty bronze plum vases, wine vessels made for aristocratic tombs. A complete pair of such bronze vases is extremely rare, and their collectible value far exceeds that of individual pieces. The two vases are perfectly proportioned: small, narrow mouths, short necks, broad, rounded shoulders, slender waists, and flared feet, showcasing the early prototype of the famous Chinese plum vase, with soft, symmetrical, and elegant lines. The shoulders and lower parts of the bodies are decorated with flowing scrolling cloud patterns, their graceful lines typical of Han Dynasty decorative art, and the even depth of the carving demonstrates mature copperplate engraving techniques. Thousands of years of underground burial have created a uniform, multi-toned patina: a warm orange mineral soil crust perfectly blended with the bluish-green patina, all layers of which formed naturally underground, without modern chemical stripping or restoration. While Han Dynasty bronzes were mostly sacrificial vessels and cooking utensils, this small, decorative bronze wine bottle set was specifically made for aristocratic tombs, reflecting the ancients' hope for perpetual feasting in the afterlife. A pair of well-preserved Han Dynasty bronze vases, with consistent carving and untreated patina, are extremely rare on the global antique market and highly sought after by bronze collectors on the West Coast of the United States. This collection possesses three core values: important archaeological records of Han Dynasty bronze manufacturing techniques, profound ancient funerary art aesthetics, and excellent long-term preservation potential, making it ideal for permanent exhibition in private art museums and Chinese classical artifact galleries in North America.

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