AN ARCHAIC BRONZE RITUAL VESSEL, POU

PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE SWEDISH COLLECTION

Details

AN ARCHAIC BRONZE RITUAL VESSEL, POU
SHANG DYNASTY, 12TH/11TH CENTURY B.C.

The bulbous body cast with a wide band of three taotie masks formed by dragons with bulbous eyes confronted on a narrow flange situated directly below a raised bovine mask separating further pairs of dragons on the band above, a similar decorative band flat cast on the flared, pedestal foot which is pierced at its top with four equidistant apertures, all on leiwen grounds, the tapering neck cast with two bowstring bands below the everted rim, extensive green encrustation, worn through in areas
14in. (35.6cm.) across

Lot Essay

Compare a similar pou from Shaanxi province illustrated in Bronzes of Shang and Zhou Dynasties Unearthed in Shaanxi Province, vol. I, p. 107; the example in the Arthur M. Sackler Collection, illustrated by Bagley, Shang Ritual Bronzes, 1987, vol. I, pl. 57; and another in the Seligman Collection Catalogue, pl. A 12

A similar pou was sold in these rooms June 4, 1992, lot 179