Seeking info on Chinese black patina bronze vase with archaistic motifs

Hi all,

I inherited this from my Dad's family. Decades ago someone fitted it with a top for a lamp and probably added the wood base. The family lore is that this mysteriously appeared in the entrance to my Granma's home in Brooklyn around 1900 as a vase and not a lamp. I've certainly lived with it all my life. It's heavy, extensively decorated. It's about 13 inches tall, not including wood base.

Any tips for how I might go about finding out more about the likely age and the typical way the vase would have been used: flowers, ritual purposes?

Attaching one pic.

BTW, Just joined, and this is my first post!

 

It was once a very nice 19th century Chinese Archaic style bronze vase, and now an attractive lamp base.
The fact that it is heavy indicates that it isn't Archaic period, but made in the 19th century when many Archaic style bronzes were made. A really nice example, but not worth as much as the original vase.

Someone liked your Granma.

 

I think you have the basic information right. Chinese bronze archaic period design. We see so many new versions of such we get a bit jaded. Yours is a bit different. It appears to have genuine age. I don't think this is truly archaic period but may be legitimately old. Here is a similar vase listed as 18th century for comparison.

18th C. Chinese Bronze Vase.

 

Welcome here, Gillibaba!
As a general rule, more pics is better...an' post 'em as Full Size. Thanks!

 

Thank you both for these helpful replies. Every little bit of information helps, doesn't it?

 

Still getting the hang of the photo uploading thing... with a bit of practice I should be smoother with the process.

 

A request, when you post a photo, could you click on the button that says "full image", please? That helps us a lot.

 

I didn't even know there was a 'full image' button so thanks for telling me.

 

Not to worry, @Gillibaba. All new members use Thumbnail instead of Full Image to add photographs in their first post. Not a problem at all.

Debora

 

Sure LOOKS like the same design as on yours.......but no top.....and the base looks more plain....no design visible on base....at least not to me!

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No Persian style 'petals' around the neck either. Those petals/spearheads are part of the Persian influence that came with the introduction of blue and white glazed ceramics from Persia. IIRC, those were popular during the Yuan Dynasty, 13th-14th century.
Afaik, the mixing of Archaic and style elements from much later periods is a feature of 19th century Archaic 'replicas'.

And to my eyes the bronze looks significantly older than OPs.

 

Welcome to Antiquers, @Gillibaba !