Lot Essay
The interlaced ribbon-like dragons are typical of the late Western Zhou decorative motifs. For comparable designs cf. the decoration on a bell from Henan Xinzheng, illustrated by Rawson, Western Zhou Ritual Bronzes from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, p.117, Fig.165. Other similar dragons are found on a bronze ladle from Shaanxi Fufeng Zhuangbai, as well as on a hu and pan from Henan Xinyang Pingqiao, illustrated by Rawson, op.cit., p.116, Fig.163a, and p.123, Fig.176
For a vessel with similar animal-head handles refer to a hu from Shaanxi, Chang'an Xinwangcun illustrated in Kaogy, 1974, no.1, p.1-5, pl.1:2; and by Rawson, op.cit., p.92, Fig.137
This interlaced design found in the Western Zhou period was to be very influential for later Eastern Zhou motifs, the decoration, as exemplified on this vessel, being echoed on later bronzes. Compare the treatment of the decoration on an Eastern Zhou lei illustrated by Rawson, op.cit., p.120, fig.171
For a vessel with similar animal-head handles refer to a hu from Shaanxi, Chang'an Xinwangcun illustrated in Kaogy, 1974, no.1, p.1-5, pl.1:2; and by Rawson, op.cit., p.92, Fig.137
This interlaced design found in the Western Zhou period was to be very influential for later Eastern Zhou motifs, the decoration, as exemplified on this vessel, being echoed on later bronzes. Compare the treatment of the decoration on an Eastern Zhou lei illustrated by Rawson, op.cit., p.120, fig.171