A gold-splashed bronze ritual wine vessel, jue. Late Ming Dynasty

Raised on three blade-form supports, the deep body crisply cast with a band of two large taotie masks on a leiwen ground separated by flanges, one side with a loop handle issuing from a bovine mask, the spout flanked by two posts surmounted by removeable waisted caps, the rounded base incised with a five-character inscription in archaic script. 23.5cm (9 1/4in) high. Estimate: HK$120,000 - 150,000, $15,000 - 19,000 - Unsold.

Footnote: The inscription can be translated as "precious vessel made by Bai Shen".

晚明 灑金銅饕餮紋三足爵

Bonhams. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 4 Dec 2008. Hong Kong. Copyright © 2002-2009 Bonhams 1793 Ltd., Images and Text All Rights Reserved