An archaic bronze tripod vessel, ding Shang Dynasty

the deep three-lobed body supported on tall cylindrcial legs and rising to an everted rim set with a pair of loop handles, cast in low relief beneath the rim a taotie band divided by vertical flanges, the metal patinated to a dark grey with malachite encrustation

The tripod vessel (ding) is covered in extensive malachite, cuprite and azurite encrustations, which largely obscures the surface of the vessel.
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