A RARE BRONZE TRIPOD VESSEL AND COVER, LIAN, HAN DYNASTYChina, 2nd century BC to 2nd century AD. The deep cylindrical body supported on three crouching bear-shaped legs and cast with three strapwork bands, the central band divided by a raised fillet below the two taotie masks suspending loose rings (one lost). The fitted domed cover with three recumbent dogs, encircled by a band of neatly incised animals, enclosing a similarly incised foliate design centered by a loop handle with a ring.Provenance: From a German private collection, assembled before 1990.Condition: Conditionmensurate with age, still displaying remarkably well. Extensive wear, losses, dents, scratches, old repairs and fills, encrustations, corrosion, signs of weathering and erosion.Weight: 2,989 gDimensions: Diameter 23.5 cm, Height 24.4 cmExpert’s note: It is rare to find a Han-dynasty lian vessel with a matching cover.Auction resultparison:Type: Closely relatedAuction: Sotheby’s New York, 22 October 2003, lot 370Price: USD 5,700 or approx.EUR 8,300 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A pair of Chinese archaic bronze tripod vessels, Lian, Han dynastyExpert remark:pare the closely related form and decoration with similar crouching bear-shaped legs, strapwork bands, and taotie handles. Note that the lotprises two vessels, each of which is missing the cover. Note the diameter (22.2 cm).Auction resultparison:Type: Closely relatedAuction: Sotheby’s New York, 22 March 2011, lot 195Price: USD 62,500 or approx.EUR 74,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: An archaic bronze vessel and cover (lian), Han dynastyExpert remark:pare the closely related form and related decoration with similar taotie handles. Note the diameter (22.2 cm).漢代匲式青銅三足蓋爐中國，公元前二世紀至公元二世紀。深圓柱體，三個熊形足，器身三道弦紋，飾饕餮紋啣活環（一個丟失）。圓蓋上有三隻臥犬，中央一個圓環鈕。