A carved bronze archaistic 'zodiac animals' bottle vase


13th/14th centuryThe bottle heavily cast with a wide, splayed foot rising to a compressed globular lower body and tapering neck surmounted by a dish shaped mouth, covered overall in registers of shallow relief designs of zodiac animals against stylised waves, each separated by archaistic diaper and lappet bands. 24.8cm (9 3/4in) high
|A vase with very similar cast decoration, but different shape, is in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, dated by inscription to 1173 (museum nos. M.164-1917). This vase is illustrated by Rose Kerr, Later Chinese Bronzes, plates 31, 32, 46 and 47, where the author mentions that the decorative bands relate to contemporary designs in other media, particularly architecture and ceramics, but that these designs were popular for several decades thereafter and are found on later vessels as well (p.44).