LATE SHANG DYNASTY

Details

AN ARCHAIC BRONZE TRIPOD VESSEL, DING
late shang dynasty
The swelling bowl resting on three cylindrical feet with a simple blade and dragon pattern, the body cast with a narrow band of confronted dragons on a leiwen ground divided by six short raised flanges, above cicadas in triangular compartments, the flaring rim set with two horseshoe loop handles, the interior with a single character, the bronze of a dark olive patina and malachite encrustation
8¾in. (22.4cm.) high

Lot Essay

A similar ding tripod is illustrated by R.Bagley in Shang Ritual Bronzes, no.82, p.452: dated to the 12th century BC, it is decorated with the same confronting dragons raised over the dense leiwen ground, and "puffy" cicadas in the triangular blades below.

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