Lot 109. The Xu Wang Ding. An important bronze food vessel, Middle Spring and Autumn period, 7th-6th century BC. Height 9 1/2  in., 24.2 cm. Estimate 100,000 — 150,000 USD. Lot sold 341,000 USD. Photo: Sotheby's 2017.

the rounded body resting on three cabriole legs, cast around the body with a border of entwined stylized dragon motifs above a single bowstring band, the everted rim set with a pair of loop handles, each decorated with evenly spaced dots and two grooves, the surface of a smooth olive-green patina, the interior wall cast with a long twenty seven-character inscription.

Provenance: Collection of Liu Tizhi (1879-1962).

Literature: Luo Zhenyu, Zhensongtang jigu yiwen, (Gathering of Ancient Writings in the Zhensongtang Studio), 1930, vol. 3, p. 21.
Yu Xingwu, Shuangjianchi jijin wenxuan, (Selected Bronze Inscriptions in the Shuangjianchi studio), 1934, vol. 1.2, p. 18.
Liu Tizhi, Shanzhai jijin lu, (The Records of Archaic Bronzes in the Shanzhai Studio), 1934, vol. 2, p. 74.
Liu Tizhi, Xiaojiaojingge jinwen taben, (Rubbings of Archaic Bronze Inscriptions in the Xiaojiaojingge Studio), 1935, vol. 2, p. 98.
Ke Changji, Weihuage jigulu bawei, (Explanatory Notes of Bronze Inscriptions in the Weihuage Studio), vol. 9, p. 5.
Guo Morou, Liangzhou jinwenci daxi tulu kaoshi (A Study of Bronze Inscriptions from the Western and Eastern Zhou Dynasties), 1935, p. 164.
Luo Zhenyu, Sandai jijin wencun, (Surviving Writings from the Xia, Shang, and Zhou Dynasties), 1936, vol. 4, p. 9.
Rong Geng, Shanzhai yiqi tulu, (Catalogue of Archaic Bronzes in the Shanzhai Studio), 1936, p. 36.
Rong Geng, Shangzhou yiqi tongkao, (A General Study of Archaic Bronzes in the Yin and Zhou Dynasties), 1941, vol. 2, no. 88.
Yang Shuda, Jiweiju jinwen shuo (Studies of Bronze Inscriptions in the Jiweiju Studio), Beijing, 1959, pp. 145-146. 
Shizuka Shirakawa, Kimbun no sekai (General Interpretations of Bronze Inscriptions), Tokyo, 1973, vol. 4, p. 568.
Yan Yiping, Jinwen Zongji, (Corpus of Bronze Inscriptions), Taipei, 1983, no. 1194.
The Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Yinzhou jinwen jicheng, (Compendium of Yin and Zhou Bronze Inscriptions), Beijing, 1984, vol. 5, p. 88, no. 2675.
Wu Zhenfeng, Shangzhou qingtongqi mingwen ji tuxiang jicheng, (Compendium of Inscriptions and Images of Bronzes from the Shang and Zhou Dynasties), Shanghai, 2012, vol. 5, pp. 59-60, no. 2309.

Illustration of the present ding vessel in Rong Geng, Shanzhai yiqi tulu, (Catalogue of Archaic Bronzes in the Shanzhai Studio), 1936, p. 36.

Sotheby's. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS & WORKS OF ART. 18 MARS 2014 - 19 MARS 2014. NEW YORK