A CHINESE BRONZE POURING VESSEL WITH DRAGON HEAD SPOUT.16th – 18th Century.The low circular basin on a short tapering foot, with rounded sides and an in-turned rim, set with two panels with raised edges, enclosing an abstract pattern of swirling waves, the spout modelled as a dragon’s head with bulging eyes and the raised mouth open, and opposite the S-shaped handle formed as the tail.6.8cm H, 15.5cm diameter.700g.Provenance: Portuguese Diplomatic Collection, acquired in the first half of the 20th Century, reputedly as a gift from the Empress Dowager Cixi.十六至十八世紀 銅飾龍海水紋禮器 For a related vessel see Paul Moss, Escape from the Dusty World: Chinese Paintings and Literati Works of Art, 1999, p 360, cat no 111, also published in Philip Hu, Later Chinese Bronzes: the Saint Louis Art Museum and Robert E Kresko, 2008¸ p 67, cat no 11.