Chinese alloy ritual vessel and cover, Xing, bearing Yongzheng mark

Chinese alloy ritual vessel and cover, Xing, of two handled circular pail form with geometric banding between twin zoomorphic handles raised on three ruyi head supports, the domed cover with conforming decoration and lug handles, Yongzheng mark (probably apocryphal) purporting a Gengxu date of c. 1725-6 [third year of the reign of the Emperor Yongzheng, first month of winter], 25cm rim diameter x 40cm high

Private collection, South Gloucestershire.

For another Xing, in bronze and of the period, see Bonhams New York, Fine Chinese Paintings and Works of Art, 9th September 2019, lot 840, where stated:

"The form of this vessel is based on one from the Zhou dynasty. In the Zhouli (Rights of Zhou) it is recorded that the vessel used for serving geng (thick broth) is called a xing. The cover of this vessel when removed and inverted can be used to present the broth during rituals.

When the Manchus established the Qing dynasty and took control of China, they also adopted the Chinese practice of making offerings to their ancestors, a tradition that had been established during the Zhou dynasty. The Qing court therefore had ceremonial vessels made to resemble the Zhou prototypes in order to give the foreign Manchus a veneer of legitimacy and to create a sense of continuity.

Xing were used in pairs, and because of the relatively short twelve-year Yongzheng reign, examples of the period are extremely rare. More common are Qianlong period examples, such as the Qianlong mark and period example which was sold at Sotheby Parke-Bernet, New York, 20 June 1978, lot 171; and another which was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 31 May 2017, lot 3019. A Qianlong mark and period xing without its cover was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 2 October 2017, lot 209, and a Qianlong mark and period xing cover was sold at Christie's New York, 16 September 2016, lot 1225.