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Lot Essay
The present lot is unusual for its elegantly-curved form, derived from archaic ritual bronze vessels. See for example a very similarly shaped bronze Hu vessel, dated to the Eastern Zhou dynasty (770-221 BC), formerly in the Arthur M. Sackler collection in the Smithsonian Institute, illustrated by Jenny So, Eastern Ritual Bronzes from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, New York, 1995, p. 236, no. 39. Compare another archaic bronze Hu formerly in the collection of Mrs. Otto H. Kahn, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New york, illustrated ibid., p. 238, fig.39.1. See also a very similarly shaped and decorated white jade vessel and cover from the Collection of Important Chinese Jade formed by Major R.W. Cooper, sold Christie's London, 29 April 1963, lot 31.
The current lot is also a fine example of pouring vessels which are carved with phoenix-head decoration. Compare a white jade gong pouring vessel carved also with a phoenix-head below the spout, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Vol. III, Hong Kong, 2005, p. 168, no. 136.
The current lot is also a fine example of pouring vessels which are carved with phoenix-head decoration. Compare a white jade gong pouring vessel carved also with a phoenix-head below the spout, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Vol. III, Hong Kong, 2005, p. 168, no. 136.