Zinc Tomb Phoenix Covered With Lacquer, Probably Ming Dynasty

Country: Imperial China
Probable period: 14th - 16th centuries
Subject: Zinc tomb phoenix covered with a reddish engobe surrounded by fine red silk fibers supporting lacquer surrounded by gilded copper hoops
* According to the analysis report by the Institut du Patrimoine Artistique (IRPA), Belgium's largest state art analysis laboratory (see report photos), the object remains a scientific mystery and the most likely date is the Ming period. Although zinc coins can already be traced back to the "Warring Kingdoms" period, when lacquer was a Japanese specialty.
Dimensions : around 24 cm H
* It's a great disappointment to me that I haven't been able to find any examples of this atypical object
⚠️ on the X-rays you'll see another archaic-style decoration under the slip, which suggests that the object had two lives (a possible bare one in zinc with its archaic decoration and a second one in lacquer). This is a hypothesis, as the decoration under the slip is stylistically identical to that of the phoenix in the ' Smithsonian Museum '
** In the hollow part of the body of the object, the cast core can be seen on the x-ray.
Condition: extremely fragile, should be placed under glass and never touched, but I believe that restorers in China, Japan or Korea will be able to restore its original solidity.
Dimensions: around 24 cm H