A FINE BRONZE RITUAL FOOD VESSEL (DING) EARLY WESTERN ZHOU DYNASTY, 11TH CENTURY BC

the trilobed body supported on three columnar legs, each lobe centered with a taotie mask with protruding eyes, reserved on a dense leiwen ground, the lipped rim set with two upright loop handles, a later added two-character pictogram below the interior rim

Collection of Mr. and Mrs. James K. Cull, London, circa 1930s.
Collection of Max Loehr (1903-1988) art historian, Prof. of Chinese Art, Harvard University and Curator of Oriental Art, the Fogg Museum, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
J.J. Lally & Co., New York.

J.J. Lally & Co., New York, June 4 to 30, 1993, Chinese Archaic Jades and Bronzes, no. 118.

W. Perceval Yetts, The Cull Chinese Bronzes, Courtland Institute of Art, University of London, 1939, no. 2, pl. II, pp. 3-5.
J.J. Lally & Co., New York, June 4 to 30, 1993, Chinese Archaic Jades and Bronzes, no. 118.

It is in good condition except that one of the loop handles is slightly leaning inward and has a crack of about 1¼ in. long underneath. The surface has been cleaned and might have been waxed.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.