LATE SHANG-EARLY WESTERN ZHOU DYNASTY, 12TH-11TH CENTURY BC

Details

A RARE BRONZE RITUAL WINE VESSEL, HU
LATE SHANG-EARLY WESTERN ZHOU DYNASTY, 12TH-11TH CENTURY BC
Of oval section, the vessel is raised on a pedestal foot encircled by a band of angular scrolls and pierced on the narrow sides with rectangular openings, and the body is cast in relief on each side with a large taotie mask flanked by descending dragons with scroll bodies and large eyes, all below a narrow band centered by a taotie mask formed by two confronted dragons flanked by a pair of somewhat flattened tubular handles cast with abbreviated dragon designs. Two bow-string bands encircle the neck below the shaped rim. The surface has a brown and green patina.
11 ¾ in. (29.7 cm.) high

Provenance

John Nicholas Brown (1900-1979) Collection, acquired before 1940.

Exhibited

On loan: Rhode Island School of Design, 1940 - June 2015.

Lot Essay

The shape of this hu, and the use of a large horned taotie mask as the lower register of decoration, as well as the bow-string bands on the neck, are similar to a hu in the British Museum, illustrated by W. Watson in Ancient Chinese Bronzes, London, 1962, pl. 5, where it is dated to the Shang dynasty, 12th-11th century BC. These features can also be seen on a hu illustrated by R. d'Argencé in Bronze Vessels of Ancient China in the Avery Brundage Collection, Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, 1977, pl. XIV (right), which is dated late Shang, 11th century.

A Technical Examination Report is available upon request.

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