A small archaistic bronze vessel (gui) Ming / Qing dynasty

the U-shaped sides flanked by bovine masks issuing loop handles with pendant tabs, cast with large taotie masks above a band of snakes encircling the pedestal foot, all reserved on a leiwen ground, the interior cast with a three-character inscription vertically arranged; together with a small bronze water-dropper cast with a smiling mahout holding an alms bowl and scroll, seated on a beast with large elephant ears, trunk and tusks below a studded mane, 17th century (2)

Compare a similar bronze 'elephant and mahout' group forming a censer and cover, included in Winter Exhibtion of Fine and Rare Chinese Works of Art and Ceramics, Roger Keverne Ltd., London, 2006, cat.no. 19.