EASTERN ZHOU DYNASTY (8TH-3RD CENTURY BC)

Details

A BRONZE TRIPOD VESSEL AND A COVER, DING
EASTERN ZHOU DYNASTY (8TH-3RD CENTURY BC)
The globular vessel is crisply cast to the exterior with dense bands of stylised animal-form scrolls, supported on three tall feet. There is a pair of curved upright handles to the sides, decorated with leiwen patterns. The cover is cast with two bands of stylised dragon scrolls, encircling the round finial decorated with further leiwen. The bronze has a pale greenish-grey patina with light malachite encrustation.
14 1/8 in. (36 cm.) diam. across the handles

Provenance

The Collection of the Honolulu Academy of Art.
With Rare Art, Inc., New York, before 14 January 1981.
From an important private European collection.

Special notice

These lots have been imported from outside the EU for sale using a Temporary Import regime. Import VAT is payable (at 5%) on the Hammer price. VAT is also payable (at 20%) on the buyer’s Premium on a VAT inclusive basis. When a buyer of such a lot has registered an EU address but wishes to export the lot or complete the import into another EU country, he must advise Christie's immediately after the auction.

Brought to you by

Xichu CC Wang

xwang@christies.com +44 (0)20 7752 3234

Lot Essay

A very similar lidded ding with a flared crown in the centre of the cover can be seen in the Peking University Sackler Museum, illustrated by the Henan Museum and Peking University Archaeology Department in Chinese Ding Culture, Daxiang chubanshe, 2013. See also J. So, Eastern Zhou Ritual Bronzes from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, New York, 1995, pp. 130-131, no. 13. these two Eastern Zhou examples have almost identical designs comprising concentric wave patterns inside the crown roundel of the cover, and meandering dragon decoration on the central roundels of the cover. The two pronounced handles are large and notably square.

A comparable covered ding is illustrated in The Freer Chinese Bronzes, vol. I Catalogue, Washington, 1967, pp. 460-495. The cover has three rings rather than the crown finial, however this piece has similar decorative elements of braided rope and dragon ornamentation.

More from Status and Ritual: Chinese Archaic Bronzes from an Important Private European Collection

View All