Lot 8094. A rare archaic bronze ritual food vessel, Shi yu, Late Shang dynasty. Estimate US$ 70,000 - 90,000 (€64,000 - 83,000). Photo Bonhams.

The deep bowl finely cast with a band of raised studded bosses above a fine diamond diaper ground, beneath a border comprised of three evenly-spaced animal heads interspersed by archaistic dragon scrolls at neck, the gently splayed foot exhibiting a further three taotie reserved on a leiwen ground, the interior cast with an archaic character Shi. 9 3/4in (24.6cm) diameter

Provenance: A San Francisco Bay family; according to the family, the vessel was brought to the United States in the 1930's by the father of the present owner.

Notes: He Jingcheng in his thesis Shang dai shi zu yan jiu(Research on the Shi family of the Shang Dynasty), published in Huaxia Archaeology, vol.2, Henan, 2007, identified the Shi family as an important clan during the Shang and Western Zhou dynasties, and members of the family were settled in widespread regions across central China. Archaic bronzes with inscription of the family were mostly found in Tengzhou and Sishui in Shandong province, while some scattered were found in Baoji and Yaoxian, Shaanxi, also in Anyang, Henan.

Yu archaic bronze food vessels were popular during the late Shang dynasty in the Yinxu Period, circa 13th – 11th centuries BC, and are formed as a round bowl raised by a ringed foot. Unlike the gui food vessel which was prevalent during the succeeding Western Zhou dynasty, yu do not have ringed handles. These were used for making offering of grains and vegetables in ancestral rituals, often accompanied by the tripod ding vessel used for cooking meats.

The striking combination of diamond cartouches and boss decoration, as seen on the present lot, appear to have been particularly admired and used on various shaped vessels in Shaanxi province during the Yinxu or Anyang period. Excavated examples are illustrated and discussed by R. Bagley, Shang Ritual Bronzes in the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, Washington, 1987, pp.504-507, no.98, and pp.510-14, nos.100 and 101. It is evident a wide variety of decorative elements, of different designs and in various levels of relief, were used to demonstrate the high level of casting and skillful techniques bronze craftsmen at Shang foundries achieved by this period. The present lot with a narrow band of zoomorphic dragon or bird like motifs, on an intricate leiwen ground, interspersed by raised animal masks, is a fine example of this. A comparable yu, with very similar zoomorphic motifs below the mouth rim is illustrated in Zhongguo qingtongqi quanji, vol.4, Beijing, 2006, p.32, no.32. Another yu with a very similar band of animal heads and zoomorphic designs, formerly in the Collection of Dr. A. F. Philips, was sold at Sotheby's New York, 22 March 2011, lot 14. Interestingly the diamond cartouches on the present yu are squarer in shape than most pieces of this type. Compare vessels also with squarer form diamonds, but less uniformed and crisp, illustrated inibid., p.33, no.33, and Zhongguo qingtong quanji vol.2, Beijing, 2006, p.93, no. 91.

Bronze ritual vessels like the present lot, with high quality casting and a pictogram, were extremely prized and reflect the importance of ancestral worship. Pictograms cast on such vessels usually indicate the individual who commissioned it.

Compare a yu of similar shape with a flaring mouth rim, cast pictograms, but with different decorative bands, sold at Sotheby's New York, 11 September 2012, lot 95. Another comparable example without a pictogram was sold at Christie's New York, 16 September 2010, lot 2508.

Bonhams. CHINESE WORKS OF ART, 11:00 EDT - NEW YORK