A GARLIC-HEAD BRONZE BOTTLE VASE, HAN DYNASTY China, 206 BC-220 AD. The compressed globular body surmounted by a waisted neck with a raised band at the center and a garlic-head top, all supported on a short foot. The recessed base with an engraved inscription, deeply encrusted and therefore only partially visible. Provenance: German private collection. Condition: Original condition, very impressive considering the age of this vase! Extensive wear, small losses, areas of erosion and weathering, and a fine malachite green patina with some encrustations. Weight: 3,250 g Dimensions: Height 40.5 cm Literature comparison: Compare two bronze vessels of related form, illustrated by J. So in Eastern Zhou Ritual Bronzes from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, New York and Washington D.C, 1995, pp. 288-89, nos. 52 and 52.2. Another example is in the National Palace Museum Taiwan, illustrated in Shang and Chou Dynasty Bronze Wine Vessels, Taipei, 1978, pp. 212-213, and p. 267. Auction result comparison: Compare with a closely related, slightly smaller vase sold by Bonham's San Francisco in Fine Chinese Works of Art on 16 December 2014, lot 8016, for USD $5,625. 青銅蒜頭瓶，漢代 中國，公元前206 -公元220。蒜頭圓口、長頸、鼓腹、圈足。頸中央略下有一弦紋。外底有突起。凹入的底座上刻有文字。 來源：德國私人收藏 品相：考慮到這個花瓶的年齡，其原始狀況令人印象非常深刻！ 廣泛磨損，小缺失，侵蝕和風化的區域，以及孔雀石綠色銅綠，並帶有一些結殼。 重量：3,250 克 尺寸：高40.5 厘米 拍賣結果比較：一件相似但小些的蒜頭瓶2014年12月16日于舊金山邦翰思《中國藝術品》拍號8016，成交價USD $5,625。