PROVENANCE: Fred Madden (1938-2019) a family of World War I hero awarded by the French Government. His family's roots began in Arkansas before it obtained statehood.Educated at Little Rock High School Upon graduation Fred moved to San Francisco becoming part of the Beatnik subculture and playing ragtime and jazz piano in clubs. He married Margaret Lillington from Bradenton Florida. They moved back to her home state where he apprenticed in the travel agency field and was the youngest agency operator in the country.A world traveler, Madden visited 168 countries (a country being defined as one which issues its own postage stamps) include such arcane destinations as Tristan da Cunha, the Faroe Islands, Afghanistan's Wakkan Corridor and Upland Togo. Maddens Global Travel agency was the first American travel agency to arrange tourist travel to the Peoples' Republic of China. His trips overseas were always a challenge to find historical artifact of ancient China pieces to bring back to the states to show and amaze his friends. His collection was vast. He was a serious scholar with a fine library on the subject of bronze art. Same Provenance offered on Lot: 81-82, 217-224, and 361-364. Dimensions: Weight: 820g, Height: 26 cm, Diam.: 13.2 cm Chinese Shang Dynasty Patinated Bronze Ritual Flower Vase, Gu. This bronze carved in traditional Gu beaker shape vase, having baluster shaped body, large, tall and thick, bulging belly on the mid, trumpet-shaped on the tall neck, raised with high round flaring foot base, like reverse bowl with splayed foot base and deep concave. The body carved with archaic taotie mask, Wanzi and auspicious pattern. The proportion of the whole body is symmetrical, the layout is accurate, very harmonious. Beautiful Chinese censer that allures the eye, displaying an amazing level of craftsmanship. The Amazing condition with a natural patina giving this piece an unforgettable appearance.