A parcel-gilt bronze ‘auspicious flowers’ incense-tool vase by Hu Wenming, Ming dynasty, 17th century | 明十七世紀 局部鎏金銅花卉圖小瓶 《胡文明製》款

A parcel-gilt bronze ‘auspicious flowers’ incense-tool vase by Hu Wenming

Ming dynasty, 17th century

明十七世紀 局部鎏金銅花卉圖小瓶

《胡文明製》款

of miniature rouleau form, the cylindrical body supported on a waisted foot and protruding flat circular footrim, the exterior of the main body cast with a garden scene of perforated ornamental rocks, bamboo, lingzhi and various blooming flowers set on a ring-punched ground, the neck with a band of stylised interlocking floral leiwen design, the upper neck and outer foot rim inlaid in silver wire with narrow key-fret borders, the lip, shoulders, outer foot and relief design all gilt, the base engraved in zhuanshu with four-character mark Hu Wenming zhi (‘Made by Hu Wenming’)

10.4 cm

337 g