A rare bronze wine vessel, China, 1st part of Warring States period, late 5th/4th C. BC

decorated with crisply cast stylised double bovine bodies with a common, quite naturalistic bovine head in rectangular, framed fields arraned like brick masonry, on the narrow sides as sole décor a taotie mask in high relief serving to maintain a now lost loose ring, malachite and brownish corrosion with earth encrustations. The tall rectangular base is restored, otherwise fair condition, the cover possibly later replaced - Estimate  6 000 €

Compare Christie's, New York, The Jingguantang Collection, Part II, 20.3.1997, lot 43

Nagel Aunctions. Asian Arts. 10-11 November 2008. www.auction.de