Cast bronze of greyish-black tone with patches of malachite and iron red encrustation.. China, Han dynasty (221–206 BC)

The body encircled by a single raised band and set at the rim with a pair of rectangular loop handles, the domed cover surmounted by three small ring handles designed as mythical birds, all supported on three legs in the shape of standing mythical animals.

Shape: Compressed globular body
Dimensions: Height 12.5 cm. Diameter 15 cm.
Condition: Excellent condition with beautiful natural patina
Provenance: Austrian private collection
Literature comparison: Sothebys, Chinese Ceramics and Works ofArt, 08 NOV 2006, LONDON, lot 307. (for a similar vessel, yet larger, but without the mythical figures) A metallurgic analysis of the bronze conducted by REM Scientific Laboratories of Mannheim, Germany, did not produce any evidence inconsistent with the dating of this vessel.

漢代熊足瑞獸雙耳鼎
青銅，紅斑綠銹
中國，漢代（221–206 BC）
全身中部一條帶子，環形雙耳，圓
頂蓋上三隻小鳥形瑞獸，三隻熊足
形狀：壓縮球狀躰
尺寸：高 12,5厘米；直徑 15 厘米
品相良好，美麗的天然綠銹
奧地利私人收藏
文獻比較：蘇富比Chinese
Ceramics and Works of Art，2006
年11月8日，倫敦，拍品37號 (相似
的鼎，大一些，但是沒有瑞獸)
德國曼海姆考古研究所 REM 對
此鼎做了青銅金屬分析，結論為“
沒有任何與此鼎斷代不一致的
證據”。