A Rare Pottery Wine Vessel (Jue) Shang Dynasty

with tapered pointy legs supporting the vessel's flattened base, the hourglass body beneath the flared rim outlined by a band of incised diagonal lines, the mouth with a sharp raised point opposite a long channeled spout, one side set with a loop handle secured by two nail-head posts, the waisted body incised with a cross-hatched pattern frieze

Acquired by the present owner in the early 1980s.

In good condition with expected breaks to the three legs, all rebuilt. The spout has been restuck and the front two inches rebuilt. The other end also with a break at the tip, rebuilt. A portion of the base also likely restored.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Gray pottery vessels of this form are extremely rare and no other similar example appears to be published. In its shape it closely follows bronze vessels of the Erlitou period; for example see a wine vessel excavated at the Erlitou-type site, Yanshi, Henan province and now in the Henan Provincial Museum of the Shang City at Yanshi, illustrated in Zhonguo qingtongqi quanji, vol. 1, Beijing, 1996, pl. 7.