Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art, New York, 11 september 2012
An archaic bronze ritual wine vessel and cover (you), Early Western Zhou Dynasty, 10th Century BC
Lot 163. An archaic bronze ritual wine vessel and cover (you), Early Western Zhou Dynasty, 10th Century BC. Height 7 1/2 in., 19 cm. Estimate 250,000-300,000 USD. Lot sold 314,500 USD. Photo Sotheby's
well-cast of oval section, the slightly compressed pear-shaped body supported on a splayed foot and encircled by a band of pairs of crested birds confronted by taotie masks all on a leiwen ground, the band interrupted on each side by a loop supporting the Ushaped bail handle with bovine-mask terminals cast with further bird motifs and lozengeshaped bosses, the fitted and domed cover with a matching bird frieze, projecting tabs and hollow oval knop, a smooth gray-green patina with malachite encrustation, the interior of the cover with a five-character inscription X zuo bao zun yi (X made this precious ritual vessel), wood stand, Japanese wood box by Zoroku, wood box (5).
Note: Similar you are illustrated by Jessica Rawson, Western Zhou Ritual Bronzes from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections,vol. IIB, Washington D.C., 1990. p. 521, no 73 and p. 676, fig. 114.4. There is a related rounder example illustrated in Bronzes in the Palace Museum, Beijing, 1999. p. 182, no. 170. A very similar you, formerly in the Luff Collection and illustrated in William Watson Ancient Chinese Bronzes, London, 1962. fig. 24a was sold in these rooms, 7th December 1983, lot 52. Another closely related vessel from the Collection of the British Rail Pension Fund was sold in our London rooms 12th December, 1989, lot 7.