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Lot Essay
The inscription in the bottom of the zun consists of an undeciphered graph. The same graph can be found on other vessels, two of which are illustrated by R. Bagley, Shang Ritual Bronzes in the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, pp. 496-7, no. 96, a yu, and fig. 96.1, a zhi in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. A pan with the same graph, in the Mayer Collection, is illustrated by M. Loehr, Ritual Vessels of Bronze Age China, The Asia Society, New York, 1968, no. 28.
This zun with its imposing form and intricate decoration is representative of the type made during the mid-Anyang period. A similar pair found in Fu Hao's tomb, is illustrated in Yinxu Fu Hao mu, Beijing, 1980, pl. XXII (1 and 2). Others in public collections have also been published: one in the British Museum, illustrated by W. Watson, Ancient Chinese Bronzes, pl. 9a; another in the Pillsbury Collection, illustrated by B. Karlgren, A Catalogue of the Chinese Bronzes in the Alfred R. Pillsbury Collection, Minneapolis, 1952, pl. 41, no. 28; and one in the Avery Brundage Collection, illustrated by B. Karlgren, "Marginalia on Some Bronze Albums II", BMFEA 32, 1960, pp. 1-25, pl. 22a, has very similar registers of decoration, but no notched flanges separating the taotie masks on the body and foot. Another similar example of somewhat larger size (14 in. high) is illustrated by d'Argencé, Ancient Chinese Bronzes in the Avery Brundage Collection, de Young Museum Society, 1966, pl. XI.
This zun with its imposing form and intricate decoration is representative of the type made during the mid-Anyang period. A similar pair found in Fu Hao's tomb, is illustrated in Yinxu Fu Hao mu, Beijing, 1980, pl. XXII (1 and 2). Others in public collections have also been published: one in the British Museum, illustrated by W. Watson, Ancient Chinese Bronzes, pl. 9a; another in the Pillsbury Collection, illustrated by B. Karlgren, A Catalogue of the Chinese Bronzes in the Alfred R. Pillsbury Collection, Minneapolis, 1952, pl. 41, no. 28; and one in the Avery Brundage Collection, illustrated by B. Karlgren, "Marginalia on Some Bronze Albums II", BMFEA 32, 1960, pp. 1-25, pl. 22a, has very similar registers of decoration, but no notched flanges separating the taotie masks on the body and foot. Another similar example of somewhat larger size (14 in. high) is illustrated by d'Argencé, Ancient Chinese Bronzes in the Avery Brundage Collection, de Young Museum Society, 1966, pl. XI.