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Rare Ritual Bronze Vessel with Serpent Iconography – Early Chinese Shamanic Art

Name: Rare Ritual Bronze Vessel with Serpent Iconography – Early Chinese Shamanic Art
Brand: 1stBuddha
SKU: 237
Price: 30000 EUR
Availability: InStock

AvailabilityIn stock

Only 1 left

SKU

237

Rare ritual bronze vessel from Southern China or the Sino-Tibetan frontier, ca. Tang dynasty (700–850 CE) or earlier. Fully sealed with serpent-head legs, archaic character inscriptions, and no modern repairs. H 9.5 x W 10.7 cm, 620 g. Deep patina and strong spiritual resonance.

€30,000.00

Disclaimer – Valuation Report

This valuation report has been carefully prepared by the 1stbuddha team based on detailed visual examination, stylistic research, technical analysis, and comparison with comparable museum examples and auction records. It is intended to provide a professional expert opinion for documentation and collector reference purposes.

Please note: this valuation report is provided for informational and documentation purposes only and is not intended as a formal legal, insurance, or tax appraisal. Where required for legal or insurance matters, an officially certified appraisal report may be necessary in accordance with applicable regulations.

Rare Ritual Bronze Vessel with Serpent Iconography – Early Chinese Shamanic Art

In stock

Description

This exceptional ritual bronze vessel originates from Southern China or the Sino-Tibetan frontier, dating conservatively to the Tang dynasty (ca. 700–850 CE) and possibly as early as the pre-Han to Zhou period (ca. 500–600 BCE). Measuring H 9.5 x W 10.7 cm and weighing 620 g, it is crafted from heavy bronze with traces of original fire-gilding and later gold leaf applications.

Key Features:

Sealed tripod form with stylized serpent-head legs
Repeated archaic inscription of the character 父 (“father”)
Serpent iconography and relief interior forms
No pour spout or opening — fully sealed for ritual or spiritual use
Deep, natural patina and granular oxidation

Ritual & Cultural Significance:

The vessel’s snake motifs and repeated “father” inscription suggest ancestor veneration and shamanic practices, acting as a spiritual container for essence or sacred materials. Such sealed vessels are rare outside museum contexts and highlight the tribal-animistic or proto-Daoist spiritual framework of early Southern China.

Condition:

Natural patina and crystalline growth confirming age
No modern repairs or synthetic treatments
Inscriptions visible in at least three distinct locations

This is a unique spiritual object rarely found outside of curated collections. Its iconography, condition, and rarity make it a highlight for serious collectors and museums.