Magnificent tho-situla made of bronze. Dong Son... Lot 423

Magnificent tho-situla made of bronze. Dong Son culture, ca. 800 B.C. - 200 A.D. H 17.2 cm, ø 22.6 cm. Thin-walled bronze tho-situla with green-turquoise patina, flared, cylindrical body, broad round foot and wide, horizontal mouth rim with two small, vertical handles. The body is decorated with four bands of vertical hatching in fine relief, the rim with an ornamental circular border in shallow relief. With patina! The tho-situlae are characteristic of the bronze objects that were left as offerings in the tombs of the Dông Son culture. In contrast to the thap situlae, they have no lid and were possibly used as spitting vessels for betel chewing. Excellently preserved. Age-related abrasion and discoloration. Provenance: Ex collection J.H., Munich, acquired late 1990s until before 2004.