A 'BAJIXIANG' SILVER- AND GOLD-INLAID BRONZE OCTAGONAL VASE, MING DYNASTY China, 1368-1644. Heavily cast, the pear-shaped body rising from a spreading foot to a long waisted neck with a straight rim, superbly inlaid in silver and gold with scrolling lotus and foliage to the body above the Eight Buddhist Emblems (bajixiang), one to each side of the foot. Provenance: The collection of Major Keith Battye and thence by descent within the family. Major Richmond Keith Molesworth Battye (1905-1958) left the army in 1938 and joined the Indian Political Service. He was posted to the North-West Frontier, working in Gilgit and Chitral, where he was called upon to adjudicate between different tribal chiefs in the area, and where he collected Chinese and Tibetan works of art. Condition: Excellent condition with minor old wear and manufacturing flaws, few small nicks, the base with shallow surface cracks. Fine, naturally grown patina with an unctuous feel overall. Weight: 1,773 g Dimensions: Height 26 cm Auction result comparison: Compare a related but bronze-inlaid pewter octagonal vase and cover, dated by inscription to the sixth year of the Wanli period (1578), at Sotheby's New York in Important Chinese Art on 23 September 2020, lot 622, bought-in at an estimate of USD 60,000-80,000. 明代八吉祥紋錯金銀八棱銅瓶 中國，1368-1644年。瓶胎重，直口，束頸、溜肩、垂腹、高圈足外撇，八棱。錯金銀鑲金，瓶身卷葉紋，圈足上可見佛教八吉祥紋。 來源：Keith Battye少校收藏，在同一家族保存至今。Richmond Keith Molesworth Battye少校 (1905-1958) 於1938 年離開軍隊並加入印度政界。 他被派往西北邊境，在吉爾吉特和吉德拉爾工作，在那裡他在該地區不同的部落首領之間進行裁決，並在那裡收集中國和西藏的藝術品。 品相：狀況極好，有輕微的舊時磨損和製造缺陷，少量小刻痕，底部表面有淺淺裂紋。 精細且自然生長的包漿。 重量：1,773 克 尺寸：高26 厘米 拍賣結果比較：一件銅錯錫八棱蓋瓶，根據款識為萬曆六年 (1578), 見紐約蘇富比 Important Chinese Art 2020年9月23日 lot 622，估價 USD 60,000-80,000。