Littleton Hennessy Asian Art - Archaic Chinese Bronzes & Metalwares

Littleton & Hennessy 

Asian Art 

ARCHAIC CHINESE 

BRONZES & 

METALWARES

ARCHAIC CHINESE 

BRONZES & 

METALWARES 

中国高古青铜及金属器 

Littleton & Hennessy Asian Art 

1 Princes Place 

Duke Street, St. James’s 

London SW1Y 6DE 

T : 44(0)20 7930 0888 

F : 44(0)20 7930 4988 

www.littletonandhennessy.com 

mark@littletonandhennessy.com 

© 2023 All rights reserved 

Published by Littleton & Hennessy Asian Art 9 – 19 March 2023

INTRODUCTION 

ARCHAIC CHINESE BRONZES 

& METALWARES 

中国高古青铜及金属器 

Littleton & Hennessy are delighted to be back exhibiting at TEFAF 

Maastricht after an eight-year break. To celebrate our return, we have 

chosen to exhibit two groups of eight works each from areas of Chinese 

art that we love, ‘Lacquer’ and ‘Metalwork’. 

The lacquer pieces are exceptional examples of the skill and ingenuity 

of the craftsmen of the Song, Yuan, and early Ming dynasties. All eight 

have previously come from the esteemed collection of Mike Healy 

and have been widely exhibited and published. The metalwork group 

contains some stellar examples of archaic and early bronze and silver 

workmanship. 

Much has happened in the past eight years; international moves, new 

fair locations, we’ve lost some dear old friends and made some new ones. 

With this in mind, we are looking forward to seeing so many familiar 

and new faces at TEFAF Maastricht 2023. 

Richard Littleton 

James Hennessy 

Mark Slaats

1AN IMPORTANT PAGODA-SHAPED BRONZE FOOD VESSEL, 

‘FANG YI’ 

青铜饕餮纹帶出戟方彝 

Shang dynasty, 11th century B.C. 商公元前 11 世纪 

Dimensions: 

尺寸 : 

13 x 9.5 x 9.5 cm; body 16.5 x 13 x 9.5 cm; overall height 25 cm 

盖 13x9.5x9.5 厘米 , 身 16.5x13x9.5 厘米 ; 通体高 25 厘米 

Provenance: - Acquired from Wui Gu Hin Hong Kong in 1989 

来源 : 

1989 年购自香港 Wui Gu Hin 

The rare bronze food vessel or ‘fang yi’ of slightly tapering, rectangular form. The 

sides cast with three separate sections of ‘taotie’ masks, divided by notched flanges 

at the corners and in the centre. The cover with a nearly identical, yet inverted 

design, set below the faceted finial. The surface has a mottled blue-green and 

milky blue-green patination. 

方彝珍罕 , 身形长方微撇。侧面饕餮纹三组 , 四角和中心铸出戟。顶盖纹饰倒转 , 盖钮 

凹凸有致。斑驳蓝绿铜锈。 

‘Fangyi’ (literally ‘square vessel’) were used as wine containers and are some of 

the rarest ritual vessels, only found in the most sumptuous tombs, compared to 

the more commonly found shapes, such a ‘gu’, ‘ding’ and ‘yue’. They are shaped 

like houses, of rectangular form with a roof-shaped lid, topped with a roofshaped 

finial. 

方彝 , 形状四方 , 用作盛酒 , 部分珍罕之器仅出土于华贵墓穴 , 相比之下 , 如觚、鼎 

及钺等则出自普通墓穴。方彝 , 形同房屋 , 身形四方 , 盖顶如房顶 , 盖钮亦如房顶。 

Compare a similar wine vessel (Late Shang dynasty, 12th-11th century B.C.), 

from the Sze Yuan Tang Collection, Christie’s New York, 16 September 2010, 

lot 822 and a slightly later vessel (Early Western Zhou dynasty, ca. 1025–ca. 975 

BCE) in the collection of the Smithsonian, Accession Number F1930.54a-b. 

参照思源堂旧藏公元前 12-11 世纪商代晚期酒器 ,2010 年 9 月 16 日纽约佳士得拍卖 , 拍 

品编号 822, 以及另一件年份较晚公元前 1025–975 年西周早期酒器 , 史密森学会藏 , 

藏品编号 F1930.54a-b。

2AN IMPRESSIVE AND IMPORTANT INSCRIBED BRONZE 

FOOD VESSEL, ‘FANG GUI’ 

青铜饕餮纹方座簋 

Mid-Western Zhou dynasty, 9th century B.C. 商公元前 11 世纪 

Dimensions: 

尺寸 : 

inner rim 19.5 cm diameter; total width 30 cm; height 24 cm 

内径 19.5 厘米 , 宽 30 厘米 , 高 24 厘米 

Provenance: - Taiwanese private collection, acquired in Hong Kong in 1980s 

- Phoebus Taipei Auction, April 21, 2018, lot 5024 

来源 : 

台湾私人藏 1980 年代购自香港 

2018 年 4 月 21 日台北富博斯拍卖 , 拍品编号 5024 

The main body shaped in the form of a standard ‘Gui’, cast in low relief with two 

‘taotie’ masks, divided by a central notched flange. The handles decorated with 

a pair of horned mythical beasts, cast on the sides with a fully formed bird. The 

square pedestal stand cast with further ‘taotie’ masks flanked by birds. The ‘Fang 

Gui’ inscribed with the characters “ 伯恒父作宝尊彝 .” 

方簋造型经典 , 饕餮纹 , 正中凸缘。双把饰瑞兽 , 两侧禽鸟。方形底座饰饕餮纹 , 两 

侧禽鸟。铭文 “ 伯恒父作宝尊彝 ”。 

Compare a nearly identical ‘Li’ bronze ‘Gui’ in the collection of the National 

Museum of China, unearthed at Lingkou, Lintong, Shaanxi Province, 1976. A 

similar ‘Fang Gui’ from the Sinclair family, also cast with a rare, fully formed 

bird on the handles was offered at Bonhams London, 12 May 2011, lot 250. 

参照中国国家博物馆藏利簋 ,1976 年出土于陕西临潼县零口镇。另一珍罕辛克莱家族 

藏方簋 , 双把饰禽鸟 ,2011 年 5 月 12 日伦敦邦瀚斯拍卖 , 拍品编号 250。

3AN INSCRIBED BRONZE SWORD, THE SON OF 

YUE WANG GOUJIAN 

越王者旨于赐剑 

Early Warring States Period, 4th century B.C. 战国早期公元前 4 世纪 

Dimensions: 

尺寸 : 

52.5 cm long, 5 cm wide 

长 52.5 厘米 , 宽 5 厘米 


来源 : 

台湾私人藏 1980 年代购自香港 


The long, tapering blade with median ridge and bevelled edges. The hilt encircled 

by two protruding discs, set between a circular concave pommel. The bronze 

sword inscribed with the characters “ 戉 ( 越 ) 王者 ( 諸 ) 旨 ( 稽 ) 于赐 .” 

剑身狭长渐收 , 中脊两侧坡面。刀柄两道圆环 , 圆头凹面。铭文 “ 戉 ( 越 ) 王者 ( 諸 ) 

旨 ( 稽 ) 于赐 ”。 

This sword is attributed to Luying ( 鹿郢 ; d. 458 B.C.), son of the famous Goujian 

( 鹿郢 ) who reigned from 496–465 B.C. as the King of the Kingdom of Yue, 

at the end of the Spring and Autumn Period and the start of the Warring States 

Period. His reign coincided with the last major conflict of this period, a struggle 

between the King’s state of Yue and Wu. After his death, Luying ruled as the King 

of Yue from 463–458 B.C. 

此剑归属越王勾践之子鹿郢 , 勾践于公元前 496-465 年间称帝 , 于春秋末期战国早期 

成为越国的首领 , 平息吴越争霸。勾践逝世之后 , 鹿郢于公元前 463-358 年期间统治 

越国。 

Compare a similar sword illustrated in ‘Selected Bronzes in the Collection of the 

Poly Art Museum’, Beijing, 1999, p. 269 B. 

参照另一青铜剑 , 出自 1999 年《保利艺术博物馆藏青铜器精选》第 269 B 

With six inscriptions 

戉 ( 越 ) 王者 ( 諸 ) 旨 ( 稽 ) 于赐 

六字铭文 

戉 ( 越 ) 王者 ( 諸 ) 旨 ( 稽 ) 于赐

4A FINE INSCRIBED GILT-SILVER ALLOY BOWL WITH COVER 

银鎏金花鸟纹带盖碗 

Tang dynasty, 7th century 唐公元 7 世纪 

Dimensions: 

尺寸 : 

cover 21.5 cm diameter 4.8 cm height bowl 21.2 cm 

diameter 8.8 cm height 

盖径 21.5 厘米 , 高 4.8 厘米 ; 碗径 21.2 厘米 , 高 8.8 厘米 

The bowl with flared sides rising from a gently splayed foot, the body decorated 

with central medallions engraved and gilt with floral and bird motifs. The cover 

with further floral motifs around the edge, with a central scene of two birds in 

mid-flight amidst floral scrolls. 

碗身朝上外撇 , 置于撇足之上 , 表面鎏金花鸟纹。盖面沿边花纹点缀 , 中央 

双鸟花卉图。盖铭文 : 杞六女。 

Provenance: - Acquired from Mandala Fine Arts Hong Kong in 2001 

来源 : 

2001 年购自香港曼陀罗艺术

5AN IMPORTANT BRONZE ‘MYTHICAL ANIMALS 

AND GRAPES’ MIRROR 

青铜海兽葡萄大镜 

Tang dynasty, 7th century 唐公元 7 世纪 

Dimensions: 

尺寸 : 

24cm diameter 

直径 24 厘米 


来源 : 

2001 年购自香港曼陀罗艺术 

The back of the mirror crisply cast in high relief, decorated with an elaborate 

design of lions and birds, against a background of grapes and grape leaves. The 

centre with a crouching lion knop, surrounded by lions, birds and mythical beast. 

The concave border cast with seated and flying birds and lions, surrounded by 

further grapes and vines. The mirror with a decorative, trifoliate border. 

镜背高浮雕纹理清晰 , 饰狮与禽鸟 , 四周葡萄及葡萄叶环绕。镜把位于正中 , 雕卧 

狮 , 四周环绕狮、禽鸟与瑞兽。沿边凹陷饰狮、飞鸟、葡萄、葡藤。镜边三叶纹。 

The design of mythical beasts and grapes is one of the classic designs seen on Tang 

dynasty mirrors.1 Its emergence is associated with the introduction into China 

of Manichaeism, a religious belief practiced by Sogdian communities trading 

along the Silk Road, in the late 7th century. Mythical (sea) creatures and grapes 

played an important role in Manichean iconography. The growing popularity of 

Manichaeism in China during the mid-Tang dynasty meant these motifs gained 

prominence in the design of bronze mirrors. 

瑞兽葡萄图是唐代的典型图案。此图与公元 7 世纪晚期在丝绸之路经商并将摩尼教带入 

中国的粟特人相关。瑞 ( 海 ) 兽葡萄图在摩尼教图案之中享有重要的一席之地。唐朝中期 

摩尼教兴起 , 瑞兽葡萄图成为了重要的铜镜图案。 

Bronze mirrors of such large size dated to the Tang dynasty are unusual and rare. 

Typically, this type of mirror varies between 10 to 20 cm in diameter. Compare 

a similar example sold at Bonhams London, 17 May 2018, lot 58. Another 

example, sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 4 April 2017, lot 82. 

如此硕大的晚唐铜镜实属稀罕。通常 , 铜镜直径在 10 至 20 厘米之间。类似铜镜参照 

2018 年 5 月 17 日伦敦邦瀚斯拍卖 , 拍品编号 58, 以及 2017 年 4 月 4 日香港佳士得拍卖 , 

拍品编号 82。 

1. Schuyler Cammann, ‘The Lion and Grape Patterns on Chinese Bronze Mirrors’, Artibus Asiae 

Vol. 16, No. 4 (1953), p. 265-291

6A FINE GILT-BRONZE FOOD VESSEL WITH COVER, ‘LIAN’ 

青铜鎏金熊足龙纹帶盖奁 

Western Han Dynasty, 2nd century B.C. 西周公元前 2 世纪 

Dimensions: 

尺寸 : 

20 cm diameter, 20 cm high 

直径 20 厘米 , 高 20 厘米 


来源 : 


The body of the cylindrical ‘lian’ raised on three bear-shaped legs, with bands 

at the base, rim and mid-body. The vessel with a pair of ‘taotie’ masks and loose 

ring handles. The domed cover is decorated with dragons and applied with three 

upright bird-form handles, doubling as supports when the cover is inverted. The 

outside of this rare, gilded ‘lian’ is decorated with a stylised dragon-pattern. The 

inside and base of the food vessel with further ‘bird’ drawings. 

奁身置于三熊足之上 , 底、沿及中部饰带纹。器表一对饕餮纹 , 三只活把。龙纹盖面 

高隆 , 三把形同禽鸟 , 将奁倒转可用作支撑。作为食具 , 此龙纹鎏金奁实属珍罕 , 于 

内表及底部饰禽鸟。 

Compare a similar vessel, inlaid with gold and silver in the collection of the 

Minneapolis Institute of Art, Accession Number 50.46.49a,b. 

类似器物参照另一嵌金银奁 , 明尼阿波利斯美术学院藏 , 藏品编号 50.46.49a,b。

7A RARE SILVER-PLATE BRONZE BOWL WITH BIRDS 

AND ANIMALS-PATTERN 

青铜鎏银花鸟纹碗 

Tang dynasty, 8th century 西周公元前 2 世纪 

Dimensions: 

尺寸 : 

15.5 cm diameter, 8 cm high 

唐公元 8 世纪 


来源 : 


The bowl with gently rounded sides, rising to a slightly everted rim. The body 

decorated with two bands of birds and florals scrolls, set above a band with 

interspersed, stylised flowers leading to a plain base. The surface and base of the 

bowl with a natural green patina and encrustation. 

器身微鼓 , 朝上至沿 , 沿口略撇。器身两道花鸟卷纹 , 平底。器表及底绿锈自然。

8A RARE BRONZE STAFF FINIAL ‘DINGSHI’ 

WITH A STANDING RHINO 

青铜犀牛杖首 

Warring States Period, 4th century B.C. 战国公元前 4 世纪 

Dimensions: 

尺寸 : 

13.4 cm long, 6.8 cm high 

长 13.4 厘米高 6.8 厘米 


来源 : 


Formed as a standing rhino on top of an axe head, the finial (‘dingshi’) is 

naturalistically modelled showing the delicate features of an Asian two-horned 

rhinoceros. The slightly tapering socket of the finial reveals an aperture for 

mounting a staff. The finial is covered overall with a natural green patina and 

encrustation. 

杖首顶饰犀牛挺立 , 犀牛为亚洲双角犀牛 , 栩栩如生。顶饰插口微撇 , 有孔 , 用于安 

置杖首 , 绿锈自然。 

Animals are often used in finials from the Warring States Period, although 

birds are more common. Compare a rare cast bird finial, published in Giuseppe 

Eskenazi, ‘Animals and Animal designs in Chinese Art’, New York, March 1998, 

catalogue no 4. 

战国时期 , 顶饰常以动物为主 , 通常用禽鸟。参照另一珍罕禽鸟杖首 , 见 1998 年 3 月版 

朱塞佩 · 埃斯卡纳齐著《中国艺术中的鸟兽与鸟兽图》图录 4, 纽约。

THE CHRONOLOGY OF CHINA 

中國歷代年表 

新石器時代 NEOLITHIC PERIOD 

c.6500-1700 BC 

夏 XIA DYNASTY c.2100-1600 BC 

商 SHANG DYNASTY 

c.1600-1100 BC 

周 ZHOU DYNASTY c.1100-256 BC 

西周 Western Zhou c.1100-771 BC 

東周 Eastern Zhou 770-256 BC 

春秋 Spring and Autumn Period 

770-476 BC 

戰國 Warring States Period 

475-221 BC 

秦 QIN DYNASTY 221-206 BC 

漢 HAN DYNASTY 206 BC-AD 220 

西漢 Western Han 206 BC-AD 8 

新王莽 Xin (Wang Mang Interregnum) 

AD 9-23 

東漢 Eastern Han AD 25-220 

三國 THREE KINGDOMS 220-265 

魏 Wei 220-265 

蜀漢 Shu Han 221-263 

吳 Wu 222-263 

晉 JIN DYNASTY 265-420 

西晉 Western Jin 265-317 

十六國 Sixteen Kingdoms 304-439 

東晉 Eastern Jin 317-420 

南朝 SOUTHERN DYNASTIES 

北朝 NORTHERN DYNASTIES 

420-589 

南朝 Southern Dynasties 

劉宋 Liu Song 420-479 

南齊 Southern Qi 479-502 

梁 Liang 502-557 

陳 Chen 557-589 

北朝 Northern Dynasties 

北魏 Northern Wei 386-534 

東魏 Eastern Wei 534-550 

西魏 Western Wei 535-556 

北齊 Northern Qi 550-577 

北周 Northern Zhou 557-581 

隋 SUI DYNASTY 581-618 

唐 TANG DYNASTY 618-907 

五代 FIVE DYNASTIES 907-960 

後梁 Later Liang 907-923 

後唐 Later Tang 923-936 

後晉 Later Jin 936-946 

後漢 Later Han 947-950 

後周 Later Zhou 951-960 

遼 LIAO DYNASTY 907-1125 

宋 SONG DYNASTY 960-1279 

北宋 Northern Song 960-1127 

南宋 Southern Song 1127-1279 

金 JIN DYNASTY 1115-1234 

明 MING DYNASTY 1368-1644 

洪武 Hongwu 1368-1398 

建文 Jianwen 1399-1402 

永樂 Yongle 1403-1425 

洪熙 Hongxi 1425 

宣德 Xuande 1426-1435 

正統 Zhengtong 1436-1449 

景泰 Jingtai 1450-1456 

天順 Tianshun 1457-1464 

成化 Chenghua 1465-1487 

弘治 Hongzhi 1488-1505 

正德 Zhengde 1506-1521 

嘉靖 Jiajing 1522-1566 

隆慶 Longqing 1567-1572 

萬曆 Wanli 1573-1619 

泰昌 Taichang 1620 

天啟 Tianqi 1621-1627 

崇禎 Chongzhen 1628-1644 

清 QING DYNASTY 1644-1911 

順治 Shunzhi 1644-1661 

康熙 Kangxi 1662-1722 

雍正 Yongzheng 1723-1735 

乾隆 Qianlong 1736-1795 

嘉慶 Jiaqing 1796-1820 

道光 Daoguang 1821-1850 

咸豐 Xianfeng 1851-1861 

同治 Tongzhi 1862-1874 

光緒 Guangxu 1875-1908 

宣統 Xuantong 1909-1911 

中華民國 REPUBLIC OF CHINA 

1912- 

元 YUAN DYNASTY 1279-1368 

洪憲 HONGXIAN (YUAN SHIKAI) 

1915-1916 

中華人民共和國 

PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA 

1949-

Littleton Hennessy Asian Art - Archaic Chinese Bronzes & Metalwares

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