Lot 4. An archaic bronze wine vessel and cover, zhi, Shang Dynasty; 15.5cm (6 1/8in) high. Estimate £28,000 - 34,000. Sold for £ 35,062 (€ 40,021). © Bonhams 2001-2019

The well cast pear-shaped body rising from a tall splayed foot to a flared mouth with lipped rim, cast around the neck and the foot with a leiwen band centred by a shallow flange on each side, domed cover with knop similarly decorated with a leiwen band, the bronze with light malachite and azurite encrustations, wood stand. 

Provenance: Dr Ernst Winkler collection, acquired in the 1940-1950s
T.Y.King collection, by repute
Badalich collection, Milan
Barlings, London
Eskenazi Ltd., London, April 1972
A Parisian private collection, July 1972
Eskenazi Ltd., London, 1973
J.Dawson, Hong Kong, November 1973.

Published and illustrated: M.Bussagli, Chinese Bronzes, London, 1969, pl.6.
Eskenazi Ltd., Ancient Chinese bronze vessels and early ceramics, London, 1973, no.5.

Note: Compare with a related zhi cast with an archaistic scrolling band, recovered from the Western Sector of Anyang Yingxu, illustrated by J.Rawson, Western Ritual Bronzes from the Arthur M.Sackler Collections, vol.IIB, Washington D.C., 1990, fig.102.1.