402.
A PARTIALLY GILT AND GLASS-INSET BRONZE VASE, HU
Ming dynasty, 16th-17th century
14,9 cm high
Provenance: Naples, Villa della Floridiana, Museo Duca di Martina, Placido de Sangro (1829-1891) collection.
inv. n. 5296.
The hu shape of this small vase directly derives from bronze ritual vessels used already during the Zhou dynasty.
The body and the neck show a relief and gilt decoration of mythical animals amidst rough sea waves and clouds. The lower, mid and upper sections of the neck are underlined by a series of small glass spheres in different colours. The rim of the mouth with a geometrical leiwen frieze.
