細節
A BRONZE RITUAL FOOD VESSEL AND COVER, GUI
EARLY WESTERN ZHOU DYNASTY, 11TH-10TH CENTURY BC
The vessel is raised on a tall foot encircled by a band comprised of eight dissolved taotie with raised, oblong eyes. The upper body is decorated with a band of birds with crests and long tails centered on two sides by a small animal mask cast in relief, and interrupted on the other two sides by a pair of handles issuing from horned animal masks. The cover is similarly decorated with a band of birds centered on low flanges below the circular, collared handle, which is pierced on two sides. The vessel and cover are cast with two matching six-character inscriptions, which may be translated as 'X Fu made this precious ritual vessel'. The patina is of a mottled dark greyish-green color.
11 ¾ in. (30.5 cm.) wide across handles