A bronze ritual wine vessel, gu, Shang dynasty (1600-1100 BC)

26 octobre 2019

A bronze ritual wine vessel, gu, Shang dynasty (1600-1100 BC)

2019_CKS_17114_0003_000(a_bronze_ritual_wine_vessel_gu_shang_dynasty)

2019_CKS_17114_0003_001(a_bronze_ritual_wine_vessel_gu_shang_dynasty)

2019_CKS_17114_0003_002(a_bronze_ritual_wine_vessel_gu_shang_dynasty)

2019_CKS_17114_0003_003(a_bronze_ritual_wine_vessel_gu_shang_dynasty)

2019_CKS_17114_0003_004(a_bronze_ritual_wine_vessel_gu_shang_dynasty)

2019_CKS_17114_0003_005(a_bronze_ritual_wine_vessel_gu_shang_dynasty)

2019_CKS_17114_0003_006(a_bronze_ritual_wine_vessel_gu_shang_dynasty)

2019_CKS_17114_0003_007(a_bronze_ritual_wine_vessel_gu_shang_dynasty)

Lot 3. A bronze ritual wine vessel, Gu, Shang dynasty (1600-1100 BC); 12 1/8 in. (30.7 cm.) high. Estimate GBP 8,000 - GBP 12,000 (USD 10,280 - USD 15,420). Price realised GBP 62,500. © Christie's Image Ltd 2019

The trumpet-form neck is cast with four leiwen-filled blades rising from a band of S-shaped serpents. The middle section and spreading foot are cast in high relief with the disconnected parts of a taotie mask reserved on a fine leiwen ground divided by notched flanges, either side of a band of kui dragons. A two-character clan mark, zi mi, is cast inside the foot. The bronze has a mottled milky-green patina.

Provenance: C.T. Loo, Paris, by repute.
Private European Collection, acquired prior to 1998.

Note: The gu is the quintessential vessel type in Shang ritual paraphernalia, and together with a jue or jiao it forms the basic wine vessel set for aristocrats to perform rites. The higher the rank of the aristocrat, the greater number of gu-jue/jiao vessel sets. Gu were one of the most important vessels used in Shang ritual practices, attested to by the inclusion of fifty-three in the tomb of Fu Hao. The present gu is associated with the 'mature' style of gu from 13th to 11th century BC, which all exhibit the same distinctive structure and the same decorative format of motifs.