A malachite, copper and silver-inlaid archaistic bronze vessel (Dui), Ming dynasty

Collection of Stephen Junkunc, III (d. 1978).

The present vessel derives its form and stylized motifs from ritual bronze food vessels (dui) of the Warring States period (ca. 475-221). Dui vessels of antiquity also had a hemispherical body supported on three shaped legs and set with a pair of loop handles, and the cover replicated the design so that the total vessel formed a sphere with loops and legs extending from it. Compare, for instance, a Warring States period dui and cover that is of similar form to the present vessel, sold at Christie's New York, 21st March 2002, lot 67.

The revivalist impulse characterizing the present vessel, the style of the inlaid motifs, and the application of multiple materials in the inlay are consistent with other Ming-dynasty bronze ritual vessels including a bird-spouted tripod pouring vessel and cover sold at Christie's Paris, 13th June 2018, lot 188; a silver- and gold-inlaid bronze tapir-form zun, from the Water, Pine and Stone Retreat Collection, sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 8th April 2013, lot 171; and an inlaid hu vessel sold at Christie's New York, 14th-15th September 2018, lot 1260.