Lot 993. A bronze ritual food vessel, gui, Early Western Zhou dynasty, 12th-11th century BC; 10¾ in. (27.2 cm.) across handles. Estimate $40,000 - USD 60,000. Price realised USD 317,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2014

The body is cast with a band of narrow vertical ribs below a band of long-tailed birds confronted on a simplified mask and reserved on a leiwen ground, interrupted by two animal masks which surmount the handles cast in intaglio on the sides with scrolls and terminating below in a tab cast as a claw. A similar bird band encircles the high foot. A two-character inscription, yong bao, 'treasured forever', is cast below the rim on the interior. The bronze has a mottled, dark grey patina with areas of malachite encrustation. 

Provenance: Acquired in Hong Kong, 3 August 1994.