A RARE AND FINELY CAST BRONZE RITUAL WINE VESSEL, ZHI

LATE SHANG DYNASTY, 12TH-11TH CENTURY BC

Details

A RARE AND FINELY CAST BRONZE RITUAL WINE VESSEL, ZHI
LATE SHANG DYNASTY, 12TH-11TH CENTURY BC
Of broad pear shape and oval section, each side cast with a taotie mask separated and divided by a notched flange that continues up into the upper band of birds with backward-turned heads and curled tails below a band of triangular blades filled with simplified inverted taotie masks, the slightly flared foot with a scroll band interrupted by hooked flanges, with mottled green patina and some malachite encrustation
4 3/8 in. (11.2 cm.) high, wood stand

Provenance

Mathias Komor, New York, 1957.

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Lot Essay

A zhi and cover with similar notched flanges and with similar bands of decoration is illustrated by R.L. d'Argencé, Bronze Vessels of Ancient China in the Avery Brundage Collection, San Francisco, 1977, p. 55, pl. XIX (lower left).

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