Antique Bronze Ritual Offering Vessel with Lion Finial Multi-Layer Petal Split Lid, Ming Dynasty 15th-16th Century

拍品描述

Dimensions: 36.6 cm (14.41 inches) in height, 1753 g in weight, Ming Dynasty (15th-16th century). Condition and Provenance: This piece is complete, consisting of two separable, matching parts, without any missing, broken, repaired, or deformed sections. The bronze core is dense and solid, covered with naturally formed bronze layers, including green patina and reddish-brown copper plating. The horizontal engravings on the body are clear and complete, with the facial features and curled tail details of the seated lion sculpture clearly visible. There are only slight signs of natural weathering over the centuries, with no trace of artificial rust removal or imitation patina. This bronze offering vase arrived in North America decades ago and is currently held by a senior private collector of antique bronzes residing in California. California was a major global trading center for ancient Chinese bronzes. Description: This Ming Dynasty split bronze offering vase, with a lion head adorning the top of the lid, is an imposing ritual vessel found in Buddhist temples. It consists of two parts: the body and a tower-shaped lion head base. The body has graceful, slender lines, is conical in shape, and flares outward at the bottom. The bottle is decorated with two parallel horizontal carved patterns at the top and bottom. Its spacious interior could hold holy water, flowers, and other sacrificial offerings. The matching base features a multi-tiered tower design, consisting of four stacked circular petal-shaped trays. A lifelike seated lion perches on the top tray, its head held high, mouth open, mane and tail meticulously detailed, showcasing the solemn and vivid sculptural style typical of Ming Dynasty animal carvings. This piece was cast using the lost-wax method with a refined bronze alloy formula, its surface covered with a naturally formed, mottled bronze patina accumulated over centuries. The thick, smooth bronze adheres firmly to the bronze core, without any modern artificial patina. Its design blends traditional Chinese Buddhist ritual craftsmanship with the auspicious symbolism of the lion; in Buddhism, the lion is a guardian deity, representing the exorcism of evil and the protection of the Dharma, while the multi-tiered tower-shaped trays symbolize the various realms of the Buddhist Pure Land. This piece was a daily sacrificial offering in aristocratic families and folk temples during the Ming Dynasty. Today, complete two-piece bronze Buddhist offering vases like this are extremely rare, possessing profound historical and religious research value as well as extremely high aesthetic and collectible significance. It is perfectly suited for display in a museum's special exhibition of ancient Buddhist artifacts and is a classic Ming Dynasty piece coveted by American antique bronze collectors.

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