An archaic bronze ritual food vessel (Gui), Early - middle Western Zhou dynasty | 西周初至中期 青銅乳釘獸面紋簋

Eskenazi Ltd., London, 1984.

Collection of Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987).

Collection of Else Sackler (1913-2000).

Distinguished Private Collection.

Christie's New York, 16th March 2017, lot 1008.

埃斯卡納齊，倫敦，1984年

亞瑟•M•賽克勒 (1913-1987) 收藏

艾爾•斯賽克勒 (1913-2000) 收藏

重要私人收藏

紐約佳士得2017年3月16日，編號1008

This vessel is striking for its robust form and well-defined diamond pattern. It represents a group of archaic bronze ritual vessels that were produced throughout the early and middle Western Zhou period. Vessels of this type are discussed by Jessica Rawson in Western Zhou Ritual Bronzes from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, vol. IIB, Washington D.C., 1990, pp 370-378, who notes that this design was inherited from the late Shang period and appears to have been very popular in Shaanxi province, where a large number of these vessels were excavated.

The present gui, however, has a more distinct design, with the elaborate combination of raised motifs and the absence of any ground pattern. Very few bronze gui of this type are recorded. See a closely related gui, excavated from a Western Zhou tomb in Pudu village, Xi'an, Shaanxi province, published in Shi Xingbang, 'Changan puducun xizhou muzang fajueji [Records of the excavation of the Western Zhou tomb in Pudu village, Chang'an district]', Kaogu xuebao / Acta Archaeologica Sinica, no. 2, Beijing, 1954, p. 10. This gui was discussed by Zhu Fenghan, who suggests it can be attributed to the early phase of the middle Western Zhou dynasty (see Zhongguo qingtongqi zonglun / A Comprehensive Survey of Chinese Bronzes, vol. I, Shanghai, 2009, p. 127 and fig. 3.17.7 for a line drawing).

Compare also a bronze gui of this type from the collection of Dr. R. Weismann and the Oeder Collection, sold in our London rooms, 19th June 1984, lot 12, now in the Meiyintang Collection, published in Wang Tao, Chinese Bronzes from the Meiyintang Collection, London, 2009, pl. 98; another from Madame Wannieck, included in the exhibition International Exhibition of Chinese Art, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 1935, cat. no. 214; and a further example, illustrated in Rong Geng, Shangzhou yiqi tongkao / The Bronzes of Shang and Chou, vol. II, Beiping, 1941, pl. 215.