Chinese Orchid Vessel with Mountain Scene

A cylinder of bronze with a mountain painted on its side.

This vessel was made in China in bronze in the early 20th century, and is an orchid vessel. Cylindrical bronze pots were commonly used for brushes, plants or display on a scholar’s desk. This one has straight sides and a plain narrow band near the lip. The body carries a soft landscape in darker tone, with a peak in the center and drifting clouds and small pines below. It sits on a round wooden stand. The bronze is a warm golden-brown with a mellow glow.

About nine inches tall and ten across. Calm, grounded, and ready for a few stems.