EARLY EASTERN ZHOU DYNASTY (9TH-8TH CENTURY BC)

Details

A BRONZE RITUAL POURING VESSEL, YI
EARLY EASTERN ZHOU DYNASTY (9TH-8TH CENTURY BC)
The vessel is fashioned with a c-shaped handle surmounted by an animal head in high relief, a u-shaped spout and rounded main body supported on four animal-form legs. The exterior is decorated with a wide band of stylised geometric scrolls above a lappet border. The bronze has a pale greyish-green patina with areas of green, russet and blue encrustation.
10 ½ in. (26.7 cm.) diam. across the handle

Provenance

The collection of Felix Guggenheim (1904-1976), Beverly Hills, California.
With Rare Art, Inc., New York, before 14 January 1981.
An important private European collection.

Special notice

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Samantha Yuen

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Lot Essay

The yi was a late Western Zhou manifestation of the earlier gong or the he, which was a water vessel used in conjunction with a pan for the ritual washing of hands, and continued to be used throughout the following Eastern Zhou period.

Compare a similar piece illustrated in J. So, Eastern Zhou Ritual Bronzes from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections; New York, 1995, p.338, and a further vessel in the Jane and Leopold Swergold Collection sold at Christie's New York, 15-16 March 2015, lot 3183, which has a similar wide spout, deep body and animal-form handle.

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