121 - Qing dynasty vase. China, ca. 1890.

Qing dynasty vase. China, ca. 1890. Bronze with cloisonné enamel. Circular wooden stand. Measurements: 24 cm (height) x 14 cm (diameter vase); 4.5 cm (height stand); 13 cm (diameter stand). This vase stands out for the sophisticated integration of polymorphous fretwork borders that frame the vigorous design of a mythological creature. The piece captures the essence of the Chinese zoomorphic imaginary, where the ferocious face of the animal -probably a taotie or a protective dragon- endows the work with an imposing symbolic and ritual charge. It is a piece that represents the excellence of the decorative arts in the Chinese Qing dynasty, a period of technical splendor, cultural synthesis and an unprecedented openness to external influences, marking the final stage of imperial China.