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Lot Essay
The present lot is made distinctive by its prominent flanges which extend beyond the rim, a rare occurence though found among Anyang bronzes cast during the late Yinxu period.
A comparable example from the Shanghai Museum was exhibited at the Hong Kong Museum of Art, illustrated p. 59, no.11 and in Bronzes in the Shanghai Museum, Hong Kong, 1973, no.8. Compare also, the smaller zun from the Pillsbury Collection with extended flanges, illustrated in A Catalogue of the Chinese Bronzes in the Alfred F. Pillsbury Collection, Minneapolis, 1952, p. 78, pl. 39, no. 26 and the fangzun and you in idem, p. 80, pl. 40, no. 27 and no. 14, fig. 21. A fangzun also with extended flanges from the Freer Collection is illustrated in The Freer Chinese Bronzes, vol. I, Washington, 1967, no. 18, p. 111 along with a comparable gu in idem, col. pl. 10, p. 69, no. 10.
The style of frame surrounding the gong character in the pictogram including squares in the corners is also found on a late Shang you from the Shanghai Museum exhibited in the Hong Kong Museum of Art, op. cit., p. 73, no. 18. The dragon character itself appears on a middle to late Anyang, 12th-11th century zun from the Freer Collection, illustrated no. 16, p. 103, where it is translated as meaning 'respectful'. Examples of the fu, 'father', character appear on a bronze included in the Shanghai Museum Exhibition, op.cit., p. 58, no. 11 and p. 60, no. 12, where the character xin, is also present.
A comparable example from the Shanghai Museum was exhibited at the Hong Kong Museum of Art, illustrated p. 59, no.11 and in Bronzes in the Shanghai Museum, Hong Kong, 1973, no.8. Compare also, the smaller zun from the Pillsbury Collection with extended flanges, illustrated in A Catalogue of the Chinese Bronzes in the Alfred F. Pillsbury Collection, Minneapolis, 1952, p. 78, pl. 39, no. 26 and the fangzun and you in idem, p. 80, pl. 40, no. 27 and no. 14, fig. 21. A fangzun also with extended flanges from the Freer Collection is illustrated in The Freer Chinese Bronzes, vol. I, Washington, 1967, no. 18, p. 111 along with a comparable gu in idem, col. pl. 10, p. 69, no. 10.
The style of frame surrounding the gong character in the pictogram including squares in the corners is also found on a late Shang you from the Shanghai Museum exhibited in the Hong Kong Museum of Art, op. cit., p. 73, no. 18. The dragon character itself appears on a middle to late Anyang, 12th-11th century zun from the Freer Collection, illustrated no. 16, p. 103, where it is translated as meaning 'respectful'. Examples of the fu, 'father', character appear on a bronze included in the Shanghai Museum Exhibition, op.cit., p. 58, no. 11 and p. 60, no. 12, where the character xin, is also present.