A LARGE BRONZE ‘CHILONG’ FOUR-TUBE ARROW VASE, TOUHU, YUAN TO MING DYNASTYChina, 1279-1644. Heavily cast with apressed globular body rising from a stepped foot and surmounted by a tall slender cylindrical neck, with four tubular rings surrounding the mouth. The body cast in relief with two beast masks suspending loose rings flanked by qilin and short flanges, the neck similarly cast with two chilong dragons. The foot and base of the neck decorated with archaistic motifs.Provenance: Swedish trade.Condition: Good condition with minor wear and casting irregularities, few minuscule nicks and dents here and there. The body and neck cast separately and joined together, with the neck being somewhat loosened. Excellent, naturally grown patina overall.Weight: 10 kgDimensions: Height 58.5 cmVases such as the present lot were designed for the ancient Chinese game of touhu, or 'arrow-throwing', which would form part of the entertainment at banquets and is mentioned in early classical texts such as the Chunqiu Zuo Zhuan attributed to Zuoqiu Ming (c.556-451 BC). Contestants would aim feathered arrows at the various cylinders applied to the vase, with higher points awarded for the less accessible openings. The loser was made to drink wine, leading to increased inebriation and diminished throwing accuracy.Literatureparison:See a related bronze arrow vase, dated as first half 17th century, illustrated in The Chinese Scholar's Studio: Artistic Life in the Late Ming Period, New York, 1987, no. 63. For a similar example, see Chinesische Kunstgeschichte von Oskar Münsterberg, Esslingen, 1910, p. 136.Auction resultparison:Type: RelatedAuction: Hong Kong, 29 May 2022, lot 43Price: HKD 318,000 or approx.EUR 37,000 converted at the time of writingDescription: A rare and large ‘eight-tube’ ‘eight immortals’ arrow vase, touhu, Ming dynastyExpert remark:pare the related form, manner of casting, and size (55 cm). Note the vase also has four tubes to the neck around the mouth, although unlike the present lot there are also four additional tubes around the body.Auction resultparison:Type: RelatedAuction: London, 6 November 2014, lot 388Price: GBP 18,750 or approx.EUR 27,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A large and unusual bronze ‘arrow’ vase, touhu, Ming dynastyExpert remark:pare the related form, manner of casting, chilong decoration, and size (55 cm). Note the vase also has four tubes to the neck around the mouth, although unlike the present lot two of them are slanted and there are also four additional tubes around the body.Auction resultparison:Type: RelatedAuction: Hong Kong, 29 May 2022, lot 5Price: HKD 255,000 or approx.EUR 30,000 converted at the time of writingDescription: A very large and rare bronze ‘bagua’ arrow octagonal