Lot 984. An unusual bronze ritual tripod food vessel, Liding, Early Shang dynasty, Erligang Period, circa 1500 BC; 7¾ in. (19.7 cm.) high. Estimate $15,000 - USD 25,000. Price realised USD 15,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2014

The vessel is raised on three tapering hollow supports positioned below each deep lobe. The lower body is cast in thread relief with a double zigzag band, and a scroll band is cast below the flared rim from which rises a pair of bail handles. The vessel has a mottled grey and milky green patina.

Provenance: Acquired in Hong Kong, 1991.
The Tsui Museum of Art, Hong Kong.

Note: Compare the liding, dated to the early Shang dynasty, of similar proportions, but raised on slightly shorter legs, and with narrow bands of circles flanking the geometric band beneath the rim, from Famen City, Fufeng County, Shaanxi province. See Shang Chou Dynasty Bronze V, Li Vessels, vol. 5, Taipei, 1990, p. 75, no. 19. Also illustrated, p. 73, no. 15, is another related liding of early Shang date, but lacking the double zigzag band on the lower body, from Wangjinglou, Xinzheng county, Henan province.

Christie's. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART, 18 – 19 September 2014, New York, Rockefeller Plaza