A Chinese Archaistic Style Bronze Vessel, Fang Ding, Ming Dynasty
明青銅仿古方鼎

Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)

Supported on four cabriole legs cast in the form of a stylized phoenix, the square vessel is decorated to each side with relief taotie masks against a leiwen ground separated by flanges, raising to a stepped rim surmounted by a pair of upright handles.

Height 6 1/2 in., 16.5 cm.

Property from the Collection of David and Beverly Hall Billings, Nantucket, Massachusetts.

Provenance:

Ex. collection of David Hausman, New York, New York.

Ex. collection of Elwyn M. Smolen, Connecticut.

Property from the Collection of David and Beverly Hall Billings, Nantucket, Massachusetts.

Illustrated:

Arts of Asia, January-February 1980, page 84-85.

HYLAND, R. M., Alice. Passion and Pursuit: The Billings Collection. Nantucket: The Ming Press, 2022. Page 175.

來源：

紐約州紐約市David Hausman先生舊藏。

康涅狄格州Elwyn M. Smolen先生舊藏。

马萨诸塞州楠塔基特島畢凌思夫婦收藏。

著錄：

《Arts of Asia》雜志1980年一月-二月號第84-85頁。

Alice Hyland著《畢凌思夫婦收藏》，2022年楠塔基特島私人出版，第175頁。

Overall stable and complete condition, small dents and nicks along the rim and the handles, areas of oxidation. two cracks to the top of one leg where it connects to the underside of the vessel.

Additional photos are updated before the sale via this link (asian.smugmug.com/Sale-2026). Please read the above or contact us to request a complete condition report.
品相细图见链接 (asian.smugmug.com/Sale-2026)，品相报告见上文或联系我们索取。图录中未说明品相的拍品并不等没有磨损、瑕疵或其他问题，建议买家于拍前自行检查。落槌无悔，请对您的竞拍行为负责。如有其他问题，请邮件[email protected]。

The physical condition of lots in our auctions can vary due to age, normal wear and tear, previous damage, and restoration/repair. All lots are sold "AS IS," in the condition they are in at the time of the auction, and we and the seller make no representation or warranty and assume no liability of any kind as to a lot's condition. Any reference to condition in a catalogue description or a condition report shall not amount to a full accounting of condition. Condition reports prepared by Freeman's staff are provided as a convenience and may be requested from the Department prior to bidding.

The absence of a posted condition report on the Freeman's website or in our catalogues should not be interpreted as commentary on an item's condition. Prospective buyers are responsible for inspecting a lot or sending their agent or conservator to inspect the lot on their behalf, and for ensuring that they have requested, received and understood any condition report provided by Freeman's.

Please email [email protected] for any additional information or questions you may have regarding this lot.

To request further details about this lot, please email [email protected]

Please contact the Auction Specialist for details.

Ben Farina

SVP, International Representative, Asian Art

[email protected]267.414.1219

Benjamin Farina serves as a Senior Vice President of Freeman’s and is the International Representative of Asian Art.
From the Philadelphia area, Farina has always been interested in the arts. He first joined Freeman’s as the Gallery Director in 1992 and is returning after more than 20 years in the field.

He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1991 from the University of Virginia where he studied History and Studio Art. In 1998 he received his Master of Fine and Decorative Arts degree from Sotheby's Institute, London.

Farina moved to New York in 1999 to continue his career; first at William Doyle Galleries, a Manhattan auction house, then in 2000 at Sothebys.com in New York as a cataloguer of decorative arts. During his eight year tenure at Sotheby’s, he researched and catalogued a wide range of rare and important materials for the arcade decorative arts, fine arts, and Chinese works of art departments. In 2009, he joined Gurr Johns appraisers and art consultants as an appraiser of fine and decorative arts and as a consignment advisor. He is a member of the Appraisers Association of America, certified in Chinese works of art and general fine and decorative arts.

Xuanyu (Adolphus) Li

Associate Specialist, Asian Art

[email protected]267.624.2213

Xuanyu Li joined the Asian Art department in 2021 and now serves as an Associate Specialist and an apprentice auctioneer. Born and raised in Shenzhen, China, he is deeply interested in Asian culture and history, with a particular emphasis on Chinese archaic jades. Li earned a bachelors degree in 2019 from Oregon State University where he studied Construction Engineering Management. In 2020, he received his Master of Science degree in Arts Administration and Museum Leadership from Drexel University.

We are open for pick-up Monday-Friday: 9am-4:30pm.

For questions about shipping or packing, please contact [email protected] or see our Shipping/Packing page.

A Chinese Archaistic Style Bronze Vessel, Fang Ding, Ming Dynasty
明青銅仿古方鼎

Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)

Height 6 1/2 in., 16.5 cm.

Property from the Collection of David and Beverly Hall Billings, Nantucket, Massachusetts.

Provenance:

Ex. collection of David Hausman, New York, New York.

Ex. collection of Elwyn M. Smolen, Connecticut.

Property from the Collection of David and Beverly Hall Billings, Nantucket, Massachusetts.

Illustrated:

Arts of Asia, January-February 1980, page 84-85.

HYLAND, R. M., Alice. Passion and Pursuit: The Billings Collection. Nantucket: The Ming Press, 2022. Page 175.

來源：

紐約州紐約市David Hausman先生舊藏。

康涅狄格州Elwyn M. Smolen先生舊藏。

马萨诸塞州楠塔基特島畢凌思夫婦收藏。

著錄：

《Arts of Asia》雜志1980年一月-二月號第84-85頁。

Alice Hyland著《畢凌思夫婦收藏》，2022年楠塔基特島私人出版，第175頁。

Please email [email protected] for any additional information or questions you may have regarding this lot.

Asian Works of Art

**A Chinese Archaistic Style Bronze Vessel, Fang Ding, Ming Dynasty
明青銅仿古方鼎**

Asian Works of Art

A Chinese Archaistic Style Bronze Vessel, Fang Ding, Ming Dynasty明 青銅仿古方鼎

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**A Chinese Archaistic Style Bronze Vessel, Fang Ding, Ming Dynasty
明青銅仿古方鼎**