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Lot Essay
The clan sign consists of three men holding a standard, and may be read as "lü". According to R. Bagley, Shang Ritual Bronzes in the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, p. 523, in reference to a lengthy inscription, which ends in this pictograph, cast inside a gui, no. 103, this pictograph is "usually taken to be the clan sign of the maker Si." The clan sign is also seen alone on a gong in the Pillsbury Collection, illustrated p. 414, fig. 73.1.
This shape was popular during the Anyang phase of Shang dynasty bronzes, but disappeared during the Western Zhou dynasty. A yu of this type illustrated by J.A. Pope et al., The Freer Chinese Bronzes, Washington, 1967, vol. I, pl. 61, shares a similar profile and arrangement of decoration, but has smaller masks and notched flanges dividing and separating the decoration on the body, neck and foot. See, also, the related yu in the Museum van Aziatische Kunst, Amsterdam, illustrated by W. Watson, Ancient Chinese Bronzes, pl. 4a; and another illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum - 27 - Bronze Ritual Vessels and Musical Instruments, Hong Kong, 2006, no. 8.
This shape was popular during the Anyang phase of Shang dynasty bronzes, but disappeared during the Western Zhou dynasty. A yu of this type illustrated by J.A. Pope et al., The Freer Chinese Bronzes, Washington, 1967, vol. I, pl. 61, shares a similar profile and arrangement of decoration, but has smaller masks and notched flanges dividing and separating the decoration on the body, neck and foot. See, also, the related yu in the Museum van Aziatische Kunst, Amsterdam, illustrated by W. Watson, Ancient Chinese Bronzes, pl. 4a; and another illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum - 27 - Bronze Ritual Vessels and Musical Instruments, Hong Kong, 2006, no. 8.