A RARE ARCHAIC BRONZE BASIN, PAN WESTERN ZHOU DYNASTY

the deep rounded sides rising from a high spreading foot to an everted rolled rim, finely cast around the exterior with a cicada band divided by three high relief taotie masks, the foot similarly cast with a cicada band, the metal patinated to a steel grey tone with patches of malachite encrustation 

There are no visible breaks or damage to the pan. The surface has been over-cleaned, but it seems that the cleaning was done some time ago. The casting not extremely crisp as some of the shallow-casted areas are not well defined, but some of the crispness may have been lost when the surface was cleaned. There is malachite encrustation that still remains on the undecorated areas. The chaplets are visible on the interior and the underside base. The overall condition is quite good.
"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 pan is closely related to a pan in the Liaoning Provincial Museum illustrated in Zhongguo qingtongqi quanji, vol. 6, Beijing, 1997, pl. 25, of similar form, size and decoration. See also a pan with handles but cast with similar cicada blades in a band on the body, in the Capital Museum, Beijing, included ibid., pl. 24; and one in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, published in Jessica Rawson, Western Zhou Ritual Bronzes from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, Cambridge, Mass., 1990, p. 722, fig. 122.2, also with handles.

The cicada motif also appears on ding vessels of the period, for example see six ding discovered in the tomb of Fu Hao, consort to King Wu Ding (1324-1265 BC) at Anyang, Henan province, illustrated in Tomb of Lady Hao at Yinxu in Anyang, Beijing, 1980, pls. 6 and 7, and line drawing on p. 39, fig. 26:1.

For examples of pan of similar large size and form but varying in decoration see one from the collection of Hans Juergen von Lochow, sold in these rooms 7^th December 1993, lot 12; and another vessel from the collection of Lord Cunliffe offered at Christie's London, 5^th June 1995, lot 52.