A BRONZE RITUAL VESSEL, JUE MARK AND PERIOD OF YONGZHENG, DATED 1730

of archaistic jue form, the deep 'U'-shaped body raised on three splayed legs of triangular section tapering towards the feet, with a broad flaring mouth surmounted by a pair of capped posts decorated in whorl circles, one side set with a loop handle issuing from an animal head, decorated to the main body with a band of taotie masks on a leiwen ground, the mask centered below an inscription reading Da Qing Yongzheng gengxu nian zao, with a rich chocolate-brown patina

Phillip Turner Antiques, London, 1982.

Overall good condition.There are insignificant bruises to the fragile extremities, especially the tips of the legs and edge of the handle. There is a minute dent to the mouth. Original casting chaplet visible below the finial.
"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."

This outstanding bronze vessel is of exceptional quality and rarity, comparable to the finest early Qing dynasty incense burners preserved in the Palace Museum, Beijing. Elegant in form, derived from a Shang dynasty ritual bronze vessel, its rare mark is outstanding on all surviving vessels. The mark reads Da Qing Yong Zheng gengxu nian zhi, which is accordance with 1730. The only other published vessel cast with a Yongzheng mark in a rectangular line is found on a bronze 'table-form' incense burner in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in Classics of the Forbidden City. Splendors from the Yongle and Xuande Reigns of China's Ming Dynasty, Beijing, 2012, p. 265, pl. 145. 

Only a small number of Yongzheng reign-marked bronze vessels has ever been offered at auction. Two 'alms-bowl' form bronze incense burners were recently sold in these rooms, a larger one 1st/2nd June 2015, lot 718, and a smaller example from the Water, Pine and Stone Retreat Collection, 8th April 2014, lot 203. For other Yongzheng-marked bronze vessels sold at auction, see also a rectangular bronze incense burner of fang ding form from the collection of Soame Jenyns, sold at Christie's London, 12th July 2005, lot 47, and again at Christie's Hong Kong, 1st June 2011, lot 3619; a tripod incense burner from the collection of Ronald Longsdorf, sold at Christie's New York, 15th/16th September 2011, lot 1160; and a gui-shaped incense burner sold at Bonham's San Francisco, 13th December 2010, lot 5146. All these examples are cast with six-character reign marks in three columns on the base, as opposed to the mark cast in a rectangular line found on the current example and the aforementioned Palace Museum 'table-form' incense burner.

A smaller Qianlong reign-marked bronze incense burner of similar jue form in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, is illustrated by Rose Kerr, Later Chinese Bronzes, London, 1990, p. 33, pl. 19.