A pair of archaic bronze inscribed ritual food vessels and covers, gui. Western Zhou Period

Each beehive-shaped vessel cast with horizontal grooves around the body and the domed cover with a flared finial with two apertures, flanked by a pair of dragon loop handles with horns and bulging eyes, supported on a splayed foot, the interior of the vessels and covers cast with four characters. 26cm (10¼in) wide. (4). Sold for £45,600

Provenance: Zhang Family Collection, New York
A Canadian private collection, Toronto

Note: Compare a related gui with ring handles, illustrated by J.Rawson in Western Zhou Ritual Bronzes from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, New York, 1990, p.443, fig.56.6.

Bonhams. Fine Chinese Art, 14 May 2009. New Bond Street www.bonhams.com