An archaistic gold and silver-inlaid bronze tapir-form vessel (Zun), Ming dynasty

Christie's New York, 5th April 2007, lot 450.

The shape and inlaid decoration of this vessel are based on ancient prototypes which originated as early as the Western Zhou dynasty. For an archaic example, see one attributed to Middle Eastern Zhou dynasty, in the National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. (accession. no. F1940.23). Tapir-form bronze vessels of this type began to appear in greater numbers in the Eastern Zhou dynasty, such as one featuring intricate inlay, illustrated in [ITALICS Masterworks of Chinese Bronze in the National Palace Museum ITALICS], National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1969, pl. 25.

A closely related example, formerly in the collections of Dr. Otto Burchard and Dr. Frederick Baekeland, was sold in these rooms, 22nd September 2021, lot 223.