Archaic Chinese Style Bronze Vessel

Modelled with oversized pierced hands, head tilted, textured loincloth; mounted on a custom-made stand. 103 grams total, 13 cm including stand



From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.

The upper body of a young female figure, likely the goddess Venus, shrouded in a palla mantle worn over the robe and draped over the head as a hood; the left arm bent to form folds and gatherings in the cloth, the right arm shown beneath the cloth held bent to the right breast; after the antique. 133 kg, 84 cm high



French collection, 1960s-early 2000s. From an important Paris gallery, France. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.12090-213905.

In Roman mythology, Venus was the goddess of love, sex, beauty and fertility. Married to the god Vulcan, Venus' principal divine lover was Mars, with whom she was famously trapped in bed with a net by Vulcan. The goddess also had numerous mortal lovers - Adonis for example. The earliest known appearance of a temple dedicated to Venus was founded on the Aventine Hill in 295 B.C. She is most closely associated with the month of April, the beginning of the season of spring.

Carved naturalistically in the round with cropped hair, wearing a taenia headband seemingly featuring Greek key motif; possibly representing a deity, a muse or even a female satyr; mounted on a carved stone base. 6.26 kg total, 24 cm high including stand



with Arts D'Orient, Artcurial, Paris, 19 May 2014, no.138. English private collection. with Timeline Auctions, 21 February 2023, no.407. Acquired from the above.