A rare archaistic zitan pouring vessel mark of Qianlong

carved in the form of a mythical beast, the body forming a hollowed bowl with lipped rim, supported on two short legs and a coiled tail, the animal's head with bared teeth and staring eyes stretched forward forming the spout, the loop handle in the form of a slender dragon, the base incised with a six-character mark
19 cm long

• Lot Sold $8,000 (Hammer Price)
• $9,760 (Hammer Price with Buyer's Premium)

Provenance

Private Collection, Melbourne

Condition Report

A crack running from the base of the bowl up the side to the rim between the hind legs of the dragon handle and extending on the underside of the dragon to the base of its tail. A small plug in the crack below the rim.
A very fine diagonal crack above the tail extending over the rim approx 2cm. A fine horizontal crack just below the rim above the right leg approx 6cm long. A small rubbed area below the base of the tail approx 4cm long. One foot re-attached.