Lot 1247. A bronze ritual food vessel, gui, Early Western Zhou Dynasty, 11th century BC; 10½ in. (26.7 cm.) across handles. Estimate USD 40,000 - USD 60,000. Price realised USD 194,500. © Christie's Images Ltd 2011

The deep body of slight S-profile raised on a slightly spreading foot encircled by a band of alternating stars and whorls reserved on a leiwen ground, a similar band repeated below the everted rim centered on two sides with a small animal mask above a bow-string border, the pair of curved handles with an animal mask at the top and a hooked tab projecting from the bottom, with a five-character inscription cast in the bottom of the interior, the mottled grey patina with blue-green, ferrous and earth encrustation, stand.