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Lot Essay
Animal-form bronze vessels were first produced during the Shang dynasty, such as the larger (24.5cm. high) zun shaped as an ox shown standing with head raised, and with a cover fitted into an opening in its back, published by Yang Xiaoneng, Sculpture of Xia & Shang China, Hong Kong, 1988, p. 176, pl. 168. Two rabbit-form bronze zun, one of small size, excavated from the Qucun site at the cemetary of the Jin State at Beizhao, Tianma, are illustrated in Wenwu, 1994:1, p. 21, fig. 27. One of these zun is smaller than the other, indicating that vessels of this type were made in small sizes as well, such as the present example.
For a bronze lamp of rhinoceros form, dated to the Western Han dynasty, excavated at Fuling, Sichuan, see Kaogu, 1984:4, fig. 7, p. 343. The legs of the published example are wider than those of the present figure, but the shape is quite similar. Another lamp of rhinoceros form was included in the exhibition, The Power of Form, Kaikodo, New York, 5 February - 28 March 1998, no. 48.
For a bronze lamp of rhinoceros form, dated to the Western Han dynasty, excavated at Fuling, Sichuan, see Kaogu, 1984:4, fig. 7, p. 343. The legs of the published example are wider than those of the present figure, but the shape is quite similar. Another lamp of rhinoceros form was included in the exhibition, The Power of Form, Kaikodo, New York, 5 February - 28 March 1998, no. 48.