A LARGE BRONZE TRIPOD FOOD VESSEL, DING EARLY WESTERN ZHOU DYNASTY

the deep U-shaped body rising from three tall cylindrical legs to an everted rim set with a pair of loop handles, each leg cast in high relief with a taotie mask above double ring bands, the body with a broad taotie band, each of the six masks divided by a vertical notched flange, the metal patinated to a dark grey tone with light malachite encrustation to the exterior and heavier encrustation to the interior

Christie's New York, 20 September 2002, lot 218.

This large and impressive ding is in fair condition with the exception of some restoration, including, two sections of the taotie band (4 x 5.5 and 6 x 5.5cm.) and associated repair to a 16 x 12cm., U-shaped section of the body, restroration to the bottom section of the legs, and general wear consistent with burial.
"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."

The present ding is a fine example of late Shang and early Western Zhou vessels typically cast with thick upright handles, a flat rim and supported on three column-like legs cast with taotie-mask above double bowstring filets and decorated with a taotie-mask band decoration on the main body. See a closely related ding, formerly in the collection of Bunmei & Co., Tokyo, with basically the same design, published in Sueji Umehara, Nihon shucho Shina kodo seikwa, Osaka, 1961, vol. 3, pl. 200. Umehara also illustrates another ding with closely related design and with an inscription, ibid., pl. 199, in the Hakutsuru Art Museum, Kobe. Compare also a ding sold in our New York rooms, 19^th March 2002, lot 7, of slightly larger dimensions and inscribed with a clan sign.

For the general proportions and decoration compare a much larger ding from the lavishly furnished royal tomb of Fu Hao, consort of king Wu Ding (c. 1324-1265 BC) which can be dated to the late 13^th to early 12^th century BC published in Tomb of  Lady Hao at Yinxu in Anyang, Beijing, 1980, pl. 5 and p. 41, fig. 28. See another large ding (height 55 cm), in the Idemitsu collection, included in Ancient Chinese Arts in the Idemitsu Collection, Tokyo, 1989, pl. 1; and one of very similar size and decoration to the present example sold at Christie's New York, 20^th September 2005, lot 150.