A BRONZE RITUAL TRIPOD FOOD VESSEL, DING

Ding vessels decorated with a single frieze of large taotie first appeared at the beginning of the late Shang dynasty, circa late 13th century BC., and continued to be popular throughout the late Shang period. The robust shape and vigorous high-relief decoration of this ding represent the artistic apogee of bronze casting in the late Shang dynasty and are very similar to that of ding found in the late Shang capital Yinxu at modern day Anyang city, Henan province, such as the three illustrated in Zhongguo qingtongqi quanji (Complete Collection of Chinese Bronzes), vol. 2: Shang 2, Beijing, 1997, nos. 11, 16, and 19. See, also, a similar ding sold at Christie’s New York, 24 March 2011, lot 1234.