A MASSIVE AND LARGE ARCHAISTIC BRONZE VASE AND COVER, FANGHU, MING DYNASTYChina, 1368-1644. Heavily cast, of rounded square section, the baluster body supported on a tall spreading foot, the shoulder and neck applied with phoenix-form handles, the sides and edges with narrow flanges. The body decorated with taotie masks below a band of kui dragons, the shoulder with a band of pendent stiff leaves below further taotie masks to the neck, the foot with taotie masks flanked by ruyi-cross designs, all against diapered key-fret grounds. The similarly decorated cover surmounted by a large finial.Expert’s note: The present archaistic bronze vase is exceptional for its massive size, which makes it exceedingly rare.Provenance: From the estate of Anthony Powell, London, United Kingdom. Anthony Powell (1935-2021) was a British costume designer who brought deep research to his work in both theater and film. His costume designs for John Gielgud's production of The School for Scandal (1963) earned him a Tony Award. Powell collaborated on movies with Steven Spielberg and Roman Polanski and won three Academy Awards for Best Costume Design, including 1978’s Death on the Nile. He was an avid collector of fabrics and trimmings as well as Chinese, Indian, and Southeast Asian works of art.Condition: Good condition with expected old wear, traces of use, shallow surface scratches and casting flaws. Some nicks and dents, minor losses, the lower body on the backside with obvious cracks. Naturally grown dark patina overall.Weight: 20.4 kgDimensions: Height 74 cmAuction resultparison:Type: RelatedAuction: Sotheby’s New York, 11 September 2019, lot 805Price: USD 27,500 or approx.EUR 30,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A massive bronze beaker vase, Ming dynastyExpert remark:pare the archaistic design and diapered key-fret grounds. Note the size (64.8 cm).明代大型仿古方壺中國，1368-1644年。壺身厚重，圓角方形截面，高足，肩部和頸部鳳凰形耳，側面和邊緣有窄凸緣。壺身夔龍帶下飾饕餮紋，肩飾蕉葉紋，下系饕餮紋至頸項，足部飾饕餮紋，兩側飾如意十字紋。壺蓋相同紋飾。專家注釋：仿古青銅瓶體型碩大，極為難得。