拍品專文
The kui is a characteristic vessel type in the Dawenkou and Longshan cultural remains. Most examples have the horizontal 'rope twist' band across the widest point of the vessel, but the twisted handle on the present lot appears to be extremely rare. One such example, with a twisted handle excavated at Liangchengzhen, Rizhao Xian, Shandong province, is in the Metropolitan Museum, illustrated by Suzanne G. Valenstein, A Handbook of Chinese Ceramics, fig. 14, p.15. Kui with the more usual arched strap handles, which were made in grey, white or red pottery, were exhibited, Chinese Ceramic Collection Through the Age, National Museum of History, Taibei, 1997 Special Exhibition, Catalogue, no. 13, p.22; and in Ancient Chinese Ceramics from The Neolithic Period to the Western Han, Part II, Uragami Sokyu-do Co. Ltd., 1994, Catalogue, nos. 31-40, pp.32-36 and in colour on pp.6 and 7. See also the example sold in our New York Rooms, 3 June 1993, lot 152.