Large Bronze Vase. Decorated With Tao-tie Masks. Chinese Work From The Qing Period.

Imposing, powerful but with a pleasant and very elegant shape, this large vase is made of lost-wax cast bronze. The walls are very thin, which is technically very difficult to achieve. The decoration is in the Chinese archaic style, in slight relief, we can distinguish the traditional Tao-Tie (tiger) masks, birds, dragons facing each other and cicadas all stylized as well as masks of fantastic creatures serving as handles. All on a Greek background. The decoration is repetitive three times. The vase was lined in Europe with a zinc container in order to receive water to serve as a vase for bouquets of flowers. Good condition, oxidized inside and below, two slight dents on one side, small old tin plugging of the casting holes, all these accidents are visible in the photos. Qing period. Difficult to date precisely because we have not found a mark. We will say work from the 19th century or earlier. Weight approx 7kg 365x315mm.