AN ARCHAISTIC MINATURE GOLD AND SILVER-INLAID BRONZE VESSEL, POU, SONG TO MING DYNASTY
China, 960-1644. Of flattened ovoid shape, short waisted neck with a flat rim and a flat base decorated overall in gold and silver inlays in a geometric design with pendent leaves which enclose scroll designs within silver wire enclosures. The double handles inlaid with a gold design.


Provenance:
Galerie Zacke, Vienna, c. 1990. Collection of Maria and Johannes Nickl, acquired from the above and thence by descent in the same family. An old exhibition label from Galerie Zacke, dating the present lot to the 13th-14th century, stating a purchase price of ATS 10,000 (or approx. EUR 1,300 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing), accompanies this lot. Maria (1926-2022) and Johannes Nickl (d. 2020) lived in Vienna, Austria, and were ardent collectors of Asian, Buddhist, and Egyptian works of art. They were highly active in Vienna’s tight-knit Asian art trade and assembled most of their collection during the 1980s and 1990s, frequently buying from Galerie Zacke and later Galerie Asboth. The couple were also noted museum patrons and their names are still found on the Ehrentafel (‘Roll of Honor’) of the Egyptian and Near Eastern Collection at the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien (Museum of Fine Arts Vienna) today.

Condition:
Good condition with ancient wear and a solid, natural patina with scattered malachite encrustations. Minor signs of weathering, encrustations, small nicks and chips, light scratches.

Weight: 70 g
Dimensions: Height 4 cm


Literature comparison:

Compare a related small archaistic gold and silver-inlaid bronze handled vessel, dated to the Song dynasty, 8.7 cm wide, at Sotheby’s London, 3 November 2021, lot 159. Compare a related miniature gold and silver-inlaid bronze gu, 5.6 cm tall, dated Song to Ming dynasty, at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 22 April 2021, lot 3667. Compare two related miniature inlaid bronze archaistic censers, dated to the 18th century, at Christie’s New York, 19 March 2008, lot 326. Compare a related miniature inlaid bronze covered ding, dated to the Ming dynasty, at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 3 April 2012, lot 173.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 1 April 2019, lot 3123
Price: HKD 137,500 or approx.
EUR 17,500
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A Gold and Silver-Inlaid Bronze Miniature Wine Vessel, Zun, Ming Dynasty
Expert remark: Compare the closely related decor and inlay work.
Note the miniature size of 8 cm.





宋至明錯金銀小銅郶

中國，960-1644年。敞口外翻，束頸，豐肩，肩部有雙系環錯金，斂足，圈足。器身地飾鳥紋與繩紋帶。器身錯金銀對稱蕉葉紋。雙手柄有鑲金。造型美觀。


來源：
維也納 Zacke藝廊，約1990年；Maria 與Johannes Nickl收藏，在同一家族保存至今。隨附一個維也納 Zacke藝廊展廊老標籤，上顯示此拍品為十三至十四世紀，售價 ATS 10,000 (根據通貨膨脹率相當於 EUR 1,300) 。Maria (1926-2022) 與 Johannes Nickl (d. 2020年) 住在奧地利維也納，是亞洲、佛教和埃及藝術品的熱心收藏家。他們在維也納的亞洲藝術貿易中非常活躍，並在 1980 年代和 90 年代收集了大部分藏品，經常從 Zacke 藝廊和後來的 Asboth藝廊購買。 這對夫婦也是著名的博物館贊助人，他們的名字至今仍出現在維也納藝術史博物館（維也納美術博物館）埃及和近東藏品的榮譽榜上。

品相：
品相完好，古色古香，包漿緊緻，天然藍綠色結殼。輕微風化跡象、結殼、小劃痕和缺口、輕微劃痕。

重量：70 克
尺寸：高4 釐米


文獻比較：

比較一件相近宋銅錯金銀仿古水盂，寬8.7 釐米，見倫敦蘇富比，2021年11月3日，lot 159。比較一件相近的宋至明 銅錯金銀蕉葉卷草紋出戟袖珍型觚，高5.6 厘米，見香港蘇富比，2021年4月22日，lot 3667。比較兩件相近的十八世紀仿古內嵌青銅器，見紐約佳士得，2008年3月19日，lot 326。比較一件相近明十六至十七世紀銅貼金銀仿古雙耳三足小蓋鼎，見香港蘇富比，2012年4月3日，lot 173。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：非常相近
拍賣：香港蘇富比，2019年4月1日，lot 3123
價格：HKD 137,500（相當於今日
EUR 17,500
）
描述：明銅錯金銀獸面紋出戟小花觚
專家評論：比較相近的裝飾和內嵌設計。
請注意尺寸僅有 8 厘米。