An extremely Rare Chinese Han Dynasty Bronze & Iron Ding. This form of tripod vessel, a ding, is well-known, with the vast majority of known examples being made of either bronze or pottery. The body and cover of this particular example are made of bronze whereas the legs are cast-iron. Although the bronze cover and vessel do have a few minor holes due to some 2,000 years of corrosion, the iron legs have not fared so well, with some of the iron having rusted away exposing the ceramic core. The ends of all three legs have broken away, and one foot has been lost. Diameter 27.5cm. Han Dynasty (206 BC – AD 220). Provenance: from the collection of the late Brian Page (1938-2018), the well-known Oriental art and antiques dealer from Brighton.