Lot 150. An archaic bronze ritual tripod food vessel (ding), Late Shang Dynasty, 13th - 11th century BC. Height 7 1/4 in., 18.2 cm. Estimate 50,000 — 70,000 USD. Lot sold 206,500 USD. Photo Sotheby's

of deep rounded form with a slight S-form profile, the swollen lower section flat cast with pendent triangles enclosing cicada surmounted by a frieze of three pairs of confronting bird-like dragons with raised circular eyes divided by shallow notched flanges on a leiwen ground, a pair of upright U-form handles to each side of the everted rim, all supported on three tall columnar legs, a two-character inscription, Zu Ji (ancestor Ji)  on the interior wall, Japanese wood box (2).

Provenance: Japanese Collection formed before World War II.