A RARE ARCHAIC BRONZE WINE VESSEL AND COVER, YOU EARLY WESTERN ZHOU DYNASTY

of slightly flattened pear shape rising from a high spreading foot to a flaring neck, set to at the shoulder with two vertical lugs suspending the large animal-headed loop handle, cast around the lower body with low relief straps imitating leather held in place by diamond-shaped studs, the shoulder with a dragon taotie band divided to each side by a high relief taotie mask, the domed cover surmounted by a flared cylindrical handle and encircled by a 'bird' taotie band reserved on a dense liewen ground, the interior of the body and cover with lengthy calligraphic inscriptions

Collection of Robert Chang .
Sotheby's New York, 15th June 1983, lot 120.
Christie's New York, 26th March 2003, lot 154.

The finely cast vessel is in good overall condition with the exception of quite heavy encrustation to the cover and handle.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

A closely related you in the Harvard University Art Museum is illustrated in Jessica Rawson, Western Zhou Ritual Bronzes from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, vol. IIB, Cambridge, Mass., 1990, fig. 67.3; another is published in Sueji Umehara, Shina kodo seikwa, part 1, vol. 1, Tokyo, 1933, pl. 84, together with a related example from the Menten collection, pl. 82; and a third you from the Hartman collection is included in Christian Deydier, Chinese Bronzes, New York, 1980, pl. 33.

Compare also a you of this form illustrated in Chen Peifen, Ancient Chinese Bronzes in the Shanghai Museum, London, 1995, pl. 30, with a different band decoration around the shoulders and cover from the present example; and a vessel similar to the Shanghai Museum example offered in these rooms, 10^th December 1985, lot 13.

The origins of the strapwork decoration found on the lower body of this piece is discussed by Eleanor von Erdberg in Artibus Asiae, Supplementum, XXV, vol. 3, 1969-70, p. 80, where the author notes that it may be based on protective harness of leather or sheet metal that was fastened to a wooden bucket with square-headed nails.