Lot 206. An archaic bronze ritual food vessel and cover, Gui, Western Zhou dynasty (1050-771 BC). Width across handles 27.5 cm, 10¾ in. Estimate: 15,000 - 25,000 GBP. Lot sold 68,750 GBP. Courtesy Sotheby's

the deep U-shaped sides flaring slightly at the mouth, flanked by a pair of loop handles issuing from bovine masks and terminating in a pendent tab, cast around the body with a large band featuring a pair of prominent confronted kui dragons and centered on a raised mask forming a flange, the tall slightly flared foot decorated with a frieze of stylised birds, all against a leiwen ground.

Provenance: Sotheby's London, 7th June 2000, lot 100.