A rare inscribed zoomorphic archaic bronze pouring vessel (He), Eastern Zhou dynasty, Warring States period

Chang Wei-Hwa, Taipei.

Offered at Sotheby's New York, 19th September 2002, lot 6.

Collection of Mr. T. Peek (d. 2006), and thence by descent.

Ben Janssens Oriental Art, TEFAF, Maastricht, 2003, pp 20-21.

The present he is exceedingly rare in its vivid zoomorphic form and large proportions. Compare a closely related bronze he of similar four-legged form and winged sides preserved in the Qing Court Collection at the Palace Museum, Beijing (accession no, gu 00077496), illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Bronze Ritual Vessels and Musical Instruments, Hong Kong, 2006, pl. 125; another he inlaid with gold and silver detailing in the Shanghai Museum, illustrated on the Museum's website; and another related he with a thinner handle connecting head and tail excavated at the Jing River, Gansu and now preserved in the Gansu Provincial Museum, illustrated in Zhongguo qingtongqi quanji, vol. 7, Beijing, 1998, pl. 50.

Boldly engraved after casting to the front of the vessel, the present semi-legible inscription appears to detail the volume and weight of the present vessel and attributes it to a specific hall. These practical inscriptions in a proto-clerical script are more commonly found on vessels created for the ruling houses of the Qin and Han dynasties, such as the tiger tally from the collection of Dr Wou Kiuan, sold in our New York rooms, 22nd March 2022, lot 47; and a large wine vessel sold at Christie's New York, 18th September 2003, lot 183.