GUANGXU PERIOD (1875-1908)

The four-character inscription, Zhou tai shi Wang, may be translated as 'the Grand Preceptor Wang of Zhou.' The present vessel is modeled after the bronze Zhou tai shi Wang, illustrated in the Xuanhe bo gu tu. For a discussion of Xuanhe bo gu tu, see lot 1602. A bronze you of similar shape to the present example is in the Palace Museum collection, Beijing, and is illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum - 27 - Bronze Ritual Vessels and Musical Instruments. Hong Kong, 2006, pl. 127, p. 83. (Fig. 1)