AN ARCHAIC BRONZE RITUAL TRIPOD FOOD VESSEL, DING LATE SHANG DYNASTY

of globular form with three shallow lobes standing on tubular legs, the flat everted rim with two upright loop handles, each lobe crisply cast with a powerful taotie mask, the large coiled horns sprawling above the flared nostril, the eyes formed from two prominent bosses with circular inlets simulating the pupils, separated from each other by a raised flange, flanked by dragon motifs with vertical scrolling bodies, all on a very finely cast leiwen ground, the patina of a mottled malachite-green and cuprite-red, the interior cast with a pictogram

Sotheby's London, 12th June 2003, lot 63.

Collection of Louis Austin.

 

The 'ding' is in very good overall condition with the exception of a hairline T-shaped (2 x 1cm.) hairline crack to the middle of the body below the right side handle (as illustrated in the catalogue), some minor casting flaws and holes to the interior, underside of the rim and handles, and a 5mm., wide old rim chip. The metal has an overall even light mottled reddish and green patination.
"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 pictogram consists of the cyclical graph bing and the graphs zuo fu Xin (made for father Xin).

A very similar ding excavated at Chongzhaicun, Tengxian, Shandong province, is illustrated in Wenwu 1972, no. 5, pl. 7, fig. 4; two other closely related late Shang vessels with an additional scroll border below the rim, excavated at Guojiazhuang and at Xiaomintun, respectively, both near Anyang in Henan province, and both now in the collection of the Archaeological Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, are illustrated in Zhongguo qingtongqi quanji, vol. 2, Beijing 1997, pls. 58 and 59.