A rare archaic bronze 'bird' pouring vessel, Yi, Chu Culture, Spring and Autumn period | 春秋 青銅楚文化鷹首匜

Kaikodo Asian Art Gallery, New York.

懷古堂，紐約

Pouring vessels of this rare falcon form were made in both bronze and polychrome painted lacquer during the Eastern Zhou dynasty, with only a handful existing today. An early Warring States example of similar form but undecorated sides was excavated in 1983 in Langjia village, Linzi, the ancient city of Qi State, and illustrated in Zhongguo Qingtongqi Quanji [Complete Series on Chinese Bronzes], vol. 9: Eastern Zhou III, Beijing, 1997, pl. 36. Both bronze and lacquer examples were also recovered from the tomb of Zhao Tuo, a high official of the Chu state at Baoshan, Hubei province, whose burial is dated to 316 BC; see Baoshan Chu Mu, Beijing, 1991, vol. 2, figs 11-3, 56-4 and 43-1&2; and line drawings illustrated in vol. 1, figs 122:1, 86 and 87. See also a similar Warring States vessel from the collection of Robert H. Ellsworth, sold in our New York rooms, 19th March 2002, lot 103. 

山東臨淄齊國故城朗家村於1983年出土一相類戰國早期例，器型相若，造型別緻，惟其器身平素無紋，圖載於《中國青銅器全集》，卷 9：東周 3，北京，1997 年，圖版 36。作者指出存世同類鷹咀匜僅見數件。安思遠亦藏一相類戰國例，惟器身平素無紋，售於紐約蘇富比，2002年3月19日，編號103。