A BRONZE-INLAID PEWTER 'ROMANCE OF THE WESTERN CHAMBER' OCTAGONAL VASE AND COVER

MING DYNASTY, DATED SIXTH YEAR OF WANLI PERIOD, CORRESPONDING TO 1578

明萬歷六年（1578年） 錫錯銅鏨西廂記人物故事圖八方蓋瓶 《萬曆六年二月十四日造》《匠人閆通趙子寶二人造》款

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the octagonal faceted body rising from a spreading foot to a lipped rim, the body incised and inlaid with eight panels enclosing scenes based on episodes from the Romance of the Western Chamber (Xixiang ji), each depicting figures engaged in various pursuits and accompanied by titles and descriptive couplets, all below a continuous band of ruyi-head lappets to the shoulders, the neck inscribed with Wanli liunian eryue shisiri zao (made on the fourteenth day, second month and the sixth year of the Wanli period) and jiangren Yantong Zhaozibao erren zao (made by artisans Yan Tong and Zhao Zibao), the cover with a large domed knop also divided into eight facets featuring alternating senes of figures and flowers (2)

Height 15? in., 39.1 cm