A fine Japanese bronze zun-shaped flower vase depicting the sages Xu You and Chao Fu.
Japan, Edo period (1603-1868), probably first half 17th century or 19th century.
This zun-shaped vessel, likely a flower vase, features a bowl-shaped body on a decorated foot, angular shoulders, and a trumpet-shaped mouth. The vase’s standout feature is the figural group on the shoulder, depicting two gentlemen and an ox in a scene from Chinese mythology. The design incorporates flower-like elements, with the segmented upper section resembling petals. The scene portrays Xu You and Chao Fu, two Chinese sages who lived during the reign of the Emperor Yao (c. 2356–2255 BC).
According to legend, the emperor Yao offered to give Xu You his throne. Xu You responded by saying that his ears had gotten dirty and washed them out with water from a waterfall to purify himself of worldly temptations. Chao Fu came to the same river to give his ox a drink but declared that he could not give his ox such dirty water and left, leading his ox away from the “contaminated” stream.
Despite the Chinese origin of the story, the vase’s form and decoration suggest it was most likely made in 17th-century Japan. Its tall neck, trumpet-shaped mouth, and distinctly frontal orientation are characteristic of Japanese Edo-period bronzes, differing from traditional Chinese designs, which emphasize rounded bodies and encircling decoration.
This vase exemplifies the Japanese adaptation of Chinese art during the Edo period. Japanese artisans drew inspiration from late Ming Chinese designs, such as high-relief decorations and symbolic imagery, while adding their unique stylistic elements. As a result, the vase reflects a blend of Chinese influence and Japanese innovation, showcasing the cultural interplay between the two traditions.
Ref:
An identical vase is in the Phoenix Art Museum collection, Clague Collection Number 245, and illustrated in China’s Renaissance in Bronze – The Robert H. Clague Collection of Later Chinese Bronzes 1100-1900 (Robert D. Mowry, 1993), pp. 56-60, no. 10.
Another similar vase with slight variations is in the Dresden Zwinger collection, inventory number 17365.
Dimensions:
Height 18 cm, diameter mouth 14.3 cm.
Condition:
Very good condition with normal wear and a warm patina.
Inv. No: MW162
