A RARE BRONZE BUFFALO-HEAD RHYTON 17TH CENTURY

cast as a well-hollowed vessel in the form of a buffalo head with harnessed horns extending toward the back of the head, detailed with finely incised eyebrows above large round eyes

Summer Exhibition, Roger Keverne, London, 2003, cat. no. 14.

There are traces of red pigment, the expected dents to the surface and casting imperfections, otherwise the bronze rhyton is in overall good condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

For the prototype of this piece see a gold-splashed rhyton attributed to the Tang dynasty included in the exhibition Possessing the Past. Treasures from the National Palace Museum, Taipei, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1996, cat. no. 351 (e).

Rhytons of this form were more commonly made in jade in the 17th century, such as the example also in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, included in the Museum's exhibition Through the Prism of the Past: Antiquarian Trends in Chinese Art of the 16th to 18th Century, Taipei, 2003, cat. no. III-26.