AN ARCHAISTIC BRONZE BIRD AND VASE VESSEL, QINGChina, Qing Dynasty (1644-1912). Cast as a bird decorated with archaistic motifs, its feathered tail curving underneath the body, the claws grasping an axle supported on two large eight-spoked wheels, on its back a baluster vase, adorned with a dragon encircling the body in pursuit of the flaming pearl, and raised characters underneath the rim.Condition: Good condition with minimal wear, slight surface scratches, and areas of malachite encrustations. Provenance: Estate of an Austrian collector, the collection was assembled in the 1980s – 1990s through purchases at Galerie Zacke and other specialized galleries in Vienna. Weight: 472.3 g Dimensions: Height 8.5 cm