EARLY WESTERN ZHOU DYNASTY, 11TH-10TH CENTURY BC

Details

A RARE BRONZE RITUAL FOOD VESSEL AND COVER, GUI
EARLY WESTERN ZHOU DYNASTY, 11TH-10TH CENTURY BC
Of tapering globular form and raised on a flared pedestal foot, with a pair of C-scroll handles issuing from a bovine mask and terminating in a hooked pendent tab, and joined by a quilled triple band cast in low thread relief with confronted dragons that form four taotie masks, a similar band repeated on the domed cover below the spreading collar-like handle pierced at its base on two sides, with mottled pale green patina and some malachite and cuprite encrustation
9¼ in. (23.5 cm.) across handles, wood stand

Provenance

Louis W. Bowen Collection, acquired in Hong Kong in the 1950s.

If you wish to view the condition report of this lot, please sign in to your account.

View condition report

Lot Essay

A gui and cover of similar form with similar decoration on the shoulder and cover, but another band on the foot, is illustrated by J. Rawson, Western Zhou Ritual Bronzes from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, Washington, DC, Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1990, vol. IIB, p. 400, no. 47. The author also illustrates, p. 402, fig. 47.1, two ceramic vessels of this more unusual gui form, with lug handles instead of C-scroll handles, which are from Anyang and date from the Shang period.

More from Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art (Parts I & II)

View All