Lot 707. A bronze ritual wine vessel and cover, Hu, Late Warring States-Han dynasty, 4th-2nd century BC; 13 in. (33 cm.) high. Estimate USD 10,000 - USD 15,000. © Christie's 2021

The pear-shaped body is cast on the shoulder with two taotie mask handles suspending loose rings, attached to linked chains that slide through corresponding rings suspended from loops on the semi-domed cover. The lower body is cast with three additional taotie mask handles with loose rings.

Property from The Jacqueline and Pierre Simon Collection.

Provenance: Michael Goedhuis, London, 1993.

Note: A fuller-bodied bronze chain-handled hu from Hubei Jiangling, of late Warring States date, late fourth-third century BC, is illustrated by Jenny So in Eastern Zhou Ritual Bronzes from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, vol. III, Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, 1995, p. 287, fig. 51.3. Like the present bronze hu, the Hubei example has a pair of mask and loose-ring handles flanking the shoulder and three mask-and-ring handles on the lower body.