Lot 531. A fine and rare archaic bronze ritual wine vessel, gu, Shang Dynasty, Erligang Period (c. 1510 – c. 1460 BC); 6 7/8 in., 17.5 cm. Estimate 20,000 — 30,000 USD. Lot sold 144,000 USD. Photo: Sotheby's.

the columnar body supported on a tall splayed foot flaring to a wide trumpet mouth, encircled around the mid-section with three raised filets above a narrow band enclosing two taotie masks, each of the faces cast in broad relief with large bosses for eyes and hooked scroll bodies centered by low flanges, all raised on a hollowed foot, pierced with a broad openwork band of enlarged leiwen scrolls, above a further register of taotie masks, the surface covered with extensive malachite encrustation.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, including Property from the Collection of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, New York, 19-20 march 2007