Lot Essay
For a discussion of the Mu Ning Ri Xin group of bronzes see the note to lot 908.
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LATE SHANG DYNASTY, 11TH CENTURY BC
Details
A RARE SMALL BRONZE RECTANGULAR RITUAL FOOD VESSEL, MU NING RI XIN FANGDING
LATE SHANG DYNASTY, 11TH CENTURY BC
The deep body of rectangular form is raised on four columnar legs, and each side is decorated with pendent blades, from a pair of confronted birds centered on a narrow flange, all reserved on a leiwen ground. A four-character inscription, mu ning ri xin, is cast in the bottom of the interior. The surface has a greyish-green patina and some malachite encrustation overall.
6 1/8 in. (15.6 cm.) high
LATE SHANG DYNASTY, 11TH CENTURY BC
The deep body of rectangular form is raised on four columnar legs, and each side is decorated with pendent blades, from a pair of confronted birds centered on a narrow flange, all reserved on a leiwen ground. A four-character inscription, mu ning ri xin, is cast in the bottom of the interior. The surface has a greyish-green patina and some malachite encrustation overall.
6 1/8 in. (15.6 cm.) high
Provenance
The Mengdiexuan Collection, Hong Kong, acquired prior to 1990.
Literature
J. Rawson and E. Bunker, Ancient Chinese and Ordos Bronzes, Hong Kong, 1990, p. 116, no. 29 (part).
Exhibited
Hong Kong, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Ancient Chinese and Ordos Bronzes, 12 October - 2 December 1990.
Hong Kong, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Wood, Metal, Water, Fire and Earth, 18 January 2002-30 August 2006.
Hong Kong, Art Museum, Chinese University of Hong Kong, The First Dragon of China: Hong Kong's Dragon Culture, 10 February 2012-27 January 2013.
Hong Kong, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Wood, Metal, Water, Fire and Earth, 18 January 2002-30 August 2006.
Hong Kong, Art Museum, Chinese University of Hong Kong, The First Dragon of China: Hong Kong's Dragon Culture, 10 February 2012-27 January 2013.