A Large Bronze Pan

WESTERN ZHOU DYNASTY (1100-771 BC)

Details

A Large Bronze Pan
Western Zhou dynasty (1100-771 BC)
Raised on a spreading pedestal foot encircled by two bowstring bands, the shallow sides cast in relief below the everted rim with a band of elongated dragons with backwards-turned heads interrupted on two sides by an animal mask and spanned on the other two sides by a pair of upturned handles decorated with bands of scale or feather pattern, the interior cast in intaglio with an eight-character pictograph, with mottled bronze and silvery patina and blue-green encrustation
17in. (44.5cm.) across handles, wood box

Provenance

Acquired in July 1993.

Lot Essay

This pan is similar in form to one in the collection of Mrs. Walter Sedgwick, the Shou Gong pan, dated to the late 10th century BC and illustrated by W. Watson, Ancient Chinese Bronzes, London, 1962, pl. 26c. Like the present pan it bears an inscription, which based on the translation, p. 79, appears to be quite lengthy. The pan was made to commemorate Shou Gong having being appointed to office, and lists the gifts that were bestowed upon him at the time.

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