Lot 706. A bronze ritual vessel, gui, Late Shang dynasty (c. 1500-1050 BC); d. 24.5 cm; h. 16 cm. Lot Sold 177,800 HKD (Estimate 20,000 - 40,000 HKD) © Sotheby's 2025

cast with deep rounded sides rising from a tall flared foot to an everted rim, the exterior decorated below the rim with three mythical beast masks, each flanked by dragon motifs, all above raised studs against a densely diapered ground and echoing dragon motifs around the foot, Japanese wood box.

Literature: Hayashi Minao and Higuchi Takayasu, Fugendo Sakamoto Goro Chugoku seidoki seisho [Ancient Chinese Bronzes in the Sakamoto Collection], Tokyo, 2002, cat. no. 149.

Note: Compare a late Shang dynasty vessel decorated with studs and leiwen motifs, preserved in the Shaanxi History Museum, Xi’an, illustrated in Zhongguo qingtongqi quanji [Complete collection of Chinese bronze vessels], vol. 4, Beijing, 1997, no. 34. See also a related late Shang - early Western Zhou dynasty vessel, inscribed with the characters tian min fu gui, similarly cast without handles, but with more rounded studs, sold in our New York rooms, 17th March 2021, lot 195.

Lot 712. A bronze 'dragon' ritual wine vessel and cover, fanglei, Late Shang dynasty (c. 1500-1050 BC); 51 cm. Lot Sold 952,500 HKD (Estimate 300,000 - 600,000 HKD) © Sotheby's 2025

of rectangular section with wide shoulders tapering towards the tall, splayed foot, the straight neck decorated with bird motifs, supporting a high domed cover surmounted by a similarly shaped finial atop a square-sectioned post, the lower edge of the cover and the shoulders of the vessel encircled by echoing borders of raised circular whorls, the shoulders further flanked by a pair of loop handles issuing from bovine heads, each suspending a loose ring, with an additional handle on the front set just above the foot, the sides of the vessel further decorated with motifs of birds and pendent lappets framing beast masks, Japanese wood box

Provenance: Sotheby's New York, 21st September 2005, lot 146.

Note: See a related late Shang dynasty example with a similar form and decoration, but without a foot like the current vessel, preserved in the Xinxiang Museum, Xinxiang, illustrated in Zhongguo qingtongqi quanji [Complete collection of Chinese bronze vessels], vol. 7, Beijing, 1997, no. 86. Fanglei vessels with high feet seem to be mainly excavated in the southern regions, such as a late Shang dynasty fanglei cast with a high foot with ridges, preserved in the Wuhan Museum, Wuhan, and illustrated in Zhongguo chutu qingtong qi quanji [Complete collection of bronzes unearthed in China], Beijing, 2018, vol. 11, no. 85. Compare another late Shang dynasty fanglei  with a high foot, formerly in the Fujita Museum, Osaka, sold at Christie’s New York, 15th March 2017, lot 524, and an early Western Zhou dynasty example, sold in our London rooms, 16th November 1973, lot 6.

Lot 707. A bronze vessel and cover, Late Western Zhou dynasty (c. 1050-771 BC); 20 cm. Lot Sold 139,700 HKD (Estimate 20,000 - 40,000 HKD) © Sotheby's 2025

with a pear-shaped body rising to a waisted neck and gently flared rim, all supported on a splayed foot, the neck flanked by a pair of loop handles, interrupting a frieze of scrollwork encircling the neck, the lower body decorated with further scrollwork, above a border of lappets encircling the foot, the cover cast with echoing motifs, Japanese wood box

Lot 722. A bronze ritual food vessel and cover, gui, Eastern Zhou dynasty, Spring and Autumn - Warring States period​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ (770-221 BC); w. 30.4 cm. Lot Sold 304,800 HKD (Estimate 20,000 - 40,000 HKD) © Sotheby's 2025

the wide gently rounded body raised on a tall splayed galleried foot, the body decorated with a dense band of the 'coiling snake' panhui motifs, interrupted by a pair of handles cast in the form of a mythical beast, above a border of echoing scrollwork encircling the foot, the cover similarly cast with panhui and scrolling motifs, Japanese wood box.

Lot 716. A bronze wine vessel and cover, bianhu, Eastern Zhou dynasty, Warring States period​​​​​​​ (475-221 BC); w. 277 cm; h. 26.5 cm. Lot Sold 215,900 HKD (Estimate 40,000 - 80,000 HKD) © Sotheby's 2025

cast with a flattened oval body rising to a waisted neck and flat mouth, all supported on a rectangular flared foot, densely decorated on each side with panels of the 'coiling snake' panhui motifs, the rounded shoulder with a pair of loop handles, linking to a chain connecting to a double-ended dragon-head handle, the cover with a beast-shaped finial and further cast with echoing panhui motifs, Japanese wood box.

Note: Such bianhu vessels are often dated to the late Warring States period. Related examples preserved in the Shanghai Museum, Shanghai, are illustrated in Chen Peifen, Xia Shang Zhou qingtongqi yanjiu [Study of archaic bronzes from Shang, Shang and Zhou dynasties], Dongzhou [Eastern Zhou] vol. 2, Shanghai, 2004, pls 618-620, although they lack covers and handles. A similar Warring States period vessel, but inlaid with copper, from the collection of Sir Joseph Hotung, was sold in these rooms, 9th October 2022, lot 155.

Lot 716. A large gold, turquoise and agate-inlaid iron fish-form fitting, Eastern Zhou dynasty, Warring States period (475-221 BC); 36.5 cm. Lot Sold 190,500 HKD (Estimate 20,000 - 40,000 HKD) © Sotheby's 2025

naturalistically modelled, the upper surface of the fish detailed with gilt overlapping scales, the head inlaid with gold leaf between the fins and turquoise at the eye, with a large agate ring looped over the upturned fin, the underside with a large circular knob, wood stand, Japanese wood box.

Literature: Hayashi Minao and Higuchi Takayasu, Fugendō Sakamoto Gorō Chūgoku seidōki seishō / Ancient Chinese Bronzes in the Sakamoto Collection, cat. no. 149.

Exhibited: Kaikan Tokubetsu Shuppin Seihin Senshu [Special Opening Exhibition - Anthology of Selected Masterpieces], Kyushu National Museum, Fukuoka, 2005, cat. no. 4.

Note: Iron inlaid with precious materials was used for belt hooks and other luxury objects during the Warring States period. Several examples, all characterised by the heavy corrosion of the iron surface, are known, including two featured in the exhibition Chinese Art of the Warring States Period. Change and Continuity, 480-222 B.C., Freer Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., 1982, cat. nos 51-52. Whilst the form of the present fitting follows that of belt hooks, its large size suggests a more practical function. Two bronze hooks with hinged oval handles were discovered together with bronze tripod vessels, ding, in the tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng in Hebei Province, and it is believed that hooks of this type were inserted through the open handles of bronze vessels to lift the tripods while they were still hot, see ibid., p. 62. Hooks with ring handles were also used as chariot or harness fittings, see a pair of bronze fittings sold in our London rooms, 12th December 1978, lot. 220.

Lot 723. A pair of gilt-bronze stands, Late Warring States period - early Western Han dynasty; 16.3 cm. Lot Sold 25,400 HKD (Estimate 20,000 - 40,000 HKD) © Sotheby's 2025

each with a galleried rim rising to a circular aperture in the centre.

Lot 719. A bronze inscribed archaistic bell, Qing dynasty, Daoguang period (1839); w. 277 cm; h. 51 cm. Lot Sold 177,800 HKD (Estimate 20,000 - 40,000 HKD) © Sotheby's 2025

cast to the top with a dragon-shaped handle, the exterior of the body with two main registers of animal masks and motifs cast similarly on each main side, the upper one interrupted with a horizontal cartouche enclosing an inscription translating to 'Huoshan Biyun Temple', above vertical cartouches of inscriptions at the lower register stating that the bell was respectfully commissioned by disciple Guo Deqing in the 8th month of 19th year of the Daoguang period (corresponding to 1839), wood stand.

Sotheby's. Chinese Art through the Eye of Sakamoto Gorō: A Selection II,  Hong Kong, 17 April - 7 May 2025