Lot 1. A bronze ritual wine vessel and cover, You, early Western Zhou dynasty (11th-10th century BC). 11 in. (28 cm.) high. Estimate GBP 80,000 - GBP 120,000 (USD 104,880 - USD 157,320). Price realised GBP 608,750. © Christie's Images Ltd 2017

The bulbous body is cast on each side with a small ram's-head boss and the loose over-head handle terminates at either side with an animal-head. There is a three-character inscription cast to the interior of the base and in reverse to the interior of the cover reading zuo bao yi.

Provenance: Collection of Wu Dacheng (1835-1902). 
From the private collection of a gentleman of title, acquired in Hong Kong in 1966.

Literature: Wu Dacheng, Hengxuan suojian suocang jijin lu (Record of Bronzes seen by and belonging to Hengxuan ?Wu Dacheng?), 1885, vol. 1, p. 67.
Wu Shifen, Meigulu jinwen (The Records of Pursuing Antiquity: Archaic Bronze Inscriptions), 1895, vol. 1.2, p. 35 (inscriptions only). 
Fang Junyi, Zhuiyizhai yiqikuanzhi kaoshi (Interpretations of Archaic Bronze Inscriptions in the Zhuiyizhai Studio), 1899, vol. 11, p. 15 (inscriptions only).
Liu Chenggan, Xigulou jinshi cuibian (Selected Bronzes and Stelea Inscriptions at the Xigulou Studio), 1933, vol. 5, p. 9 (inscriptions only).
Luo Zhenyu, Sandai jijin wencun (Surviving Writings from the Xia, Shang, and Zhou Dynasties), 1937, vol. 12, p. 58 (inscriptions only).
Yinzhou jinwen jicheng (Compendium of Yin and Zhou Bronze Inscriptions), The Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing, 1984, vol. 10, no. 5034 (inscription only).
Wu Zhenfeng, Shangzhou qingtongqi mingwen ji tuxiang jicheng(Compendium of Inscriptions and Images of Bronzes from the Shang and Zhou Dynasties), Shanghai, 2012, vol. 23, p. 304, no. 12869.

Note: The simple three-character inscription to the interior of the base, which is repeated in mirror image on the cover for artistic effect, can be read 'made this precious vessel'.

Inscriptions on the above bronze ritual wine vessel and cover, You, early Western Zhou dynasty (11th-10th century BC).

Inscriptions on the above bronze ritual wine vessel and cover, You, early Western Zhou dynasty (11th-10th century BC).

Compare the current vessel to a you of similar form with comparable animal-head terminals to the over-head handle, also with a pair of 'beaks' flanking the cover, illustrated by Jessica Rawson in Western Zhou Ritual Bronzes from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, 1990, vol. IIB, p. 517, fig. 72.3. The author notes that you with 'beaked' covers, as seen on the current example, originated in the Shang dynasty (1600-1100 BC) but remained popular into the middle Western Zhou period, and that many of them are decorated with birds.

Another similar example with an important inscription, the 'zuo ce huan you', was sold at Sotheby's New York, 17 September 2013, lot 8.

The Zuo Ce Huan You, An important bronze wine vessel, Early Western Zhou dynasty, 10th century BC. Height 9 5/8  in., 24.5 cm.. Sold for 3,077,000 USD at Sotheby's New York, 17 September 2013, lot 8. Courtesy Sotheby's.

Cf. my post: The Zuo Ce Huan You, An important bronze wine vessel, Early Western Zhou dynasty, 10th century BC

Christie's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art, 7 November 2017, London