Lot 1250. A small bronze ritual wine vessel, hu, Warring States period, 4th-3th century BC; 9¼ in. (23.5 cm.) high. Estimate 7,000 - USD 9,000. Price realised USD 17,500. © Christie's Images Ltd 2013

The pear-shaped body and spreading foot are flat-cast with bands of scroll-filled, triangular zigzag pattern set within narrow scroll borders which are repeated on the neck at the base of a band of upright triangular blades filled with scrolls. There is a pair of mask handles suspending loose rings on the shoulders. The patina is of mottled grey color and there is some milky blue-green encrustation.

Provenance: Kinpei Takeuchi (1873-1960).

Note: A very similar, but slightly larger (30.1 cm. high) hu, is illustrated by J. So, Eastern Zhou Ritual Bronzes from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, 1995, p. 284, no. 51, where it is dated late Warring States period, 3rd century BC.

Christie's. Fine Chinese Furniture, Archaic Bronzes and Works of Art, New York, 21 - 22 March 2013