西周早期 青銅夔紋簋

the rounded body raised on a hollow pedestal foot terminating in a straight foot rim, cast below the gently everted rim with a border of four pairs of confronted kuilong bisected by animal-masks in high relief on two sides, and interrupted on the other sides by two loop handles accented with C-scrolls, springing from stylized bovine-masks terminating with hooked tabs, the foot decorated with a matching band of kuilong divided by four low flanges, the patina of dark greenish-brown tone, Japanese wood box (3)

The X-ray suggests that the bronze is in overall good condition. There is the expected encrustation on the cleaned surface.
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.

The cast bands of decoration seen on the present gui belong to a distinctive type of late Shang and Western Zhou design, classified by Jessica Rawson as 'quilled triple band', see Jessica Rawson, Western Zhou Ritual Bronzes from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, vol. IIB, Washington D.C., 1990, p. 381-2.

Compare a similar ribbed gui in the Indianapolis Museum of Art, illustrated in Yutaka Mino and James Robinson, Beauty and Tranquility: The Eli Lilly Collection of Chinese Art, Indianapolis, 1993, pl. 31, where the authors note that mold fragments containing ribbed design segments similar to the present example have been discovered in the vicinity of Luoyang, see ibid., p. 112. Another example in the Idemitsu Museum of Art is illustrated in Ancient Chinese Arts in the Idemitsu Collection, Tokyo, 1989, pl. 22.