Lot 1506. A small bronze ritual wine vessel, zhi, Late Shang-Early Western Zhou dynasty, 12th-11th century BC, 5¼ in. (13.3 cm.) high. Estimate USD 15,000 - USD 25,000. Price realised USD 18,750. © Christie's Images Ltd 2012 

Of pear shape and oval section, the neck encircled by a band of diamond pattern formed by angular leiwen spirals between narrow borders of D-shaped scales or feathers repeated on the tall foot, with dark grey patina and areas of malachite encrustation. 

Provenance: Gump's, San Francisco, 1940. 

Note: Similar bands of diamond pattern or angular leiwen spirals bordered by circles rather than scales can be seen on two bronze you illustrated by R.W. Bagley, Shang Ritual Bronzes in the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, Washington DC, Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1987, p. 384, nos. 67 (of cylindrical form) and 68 (of pear shape), which are dated 11th century BC. Several other vessels with a similar band are also illustrated, pp. 392-3, figs. 68.5 - 68.7.