Current Bid:
$17.00
Minimum Bid:
Auction has ended.
Buyer's Premium: 15% will be added to the final price. A 5% cash discount reduces the buyer's premium to 10% when paying in cash.
This matched pair of Chinese export brass vases presents a classic hexagonal form with flared trumpet necks, bulbous bodies, and decorative scalloped pedestal bases — a silhouette rooted in traditional Chinese bronze vessel forms dating back centuries and widely produced for both domestic and export markets throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Each vase features hand-engraved floral and botanical motifs across every facet, including lotus blossoms, peony-like flowers, and leafy stems, with a prominent raised cartouche panel on the front face enclosing a detailed floral composition. The most distinctive decorative element is the pair of three-dimensional elephant head handles on each vase, each elephant trunk curling downward to support a loose hanging iron ring — a motif symbolizing good fortune and strength in Chinese decorative arts. The bases bear an engraved mark reading 'CHINA,' consistent with export-era marking conventions required after the McKinley Tariff Act of 1890, suggesting production in the late 19th to mid-20th century for the Western export trade. Each vase measures approximately 7 to 8 inches in height and roughly 4 inches across the widest point of the body, with the scalloped foot adding visual weight and stability. Condition is rated Good to Very Good overall; both vases display honest age-related patina with areas of darkening in the engraved recesses, light surface scratching consistent with age and handling, and minor oxidation spots across the body — no dents, cracks, or structural damage observed. The elephant ring handles are intact and functional on both vases, and the pair is well-matched in size, color, and decoration, making them a desirable display set for collectors of Asian export metalwork, chinoiserie decor, or vintage brass.