An Large Chinese Cast Iron Rain Barrel SHUNZHI PERIOD the rounded deep well cast with reserves enclosing flowering branches, between a latticework panel and a band with spiral design, the shoulder set with two dragon-head handles suspending large loose rings, raised on three curved lion-mask legs, having two vertical lines of poetic calligraphy and dated Shunzhi shi'ernian wuyue jiri zhu (made on an auspicious day in May in the twelfth year of Shunzhi reign, corresponding to year 1655). Height 29 x diameter 28 1/4 inches.