An extremely rare large archaic bronze tripod ritual vessel, (Jia) Xia Dynasty, Erlitou period

thinly cast, the flat bottomed vessel with deep sides constricting at the waist and flaring at the mouth, the rim set with a pair of short posts of triangular section at one end opposite a loop handle extending from the neck to the belly, all supported on three hollow tapering spike legs also of triangular section, the gun-metal patina covered with light malachite encrustation

Jia vessels of this earliest type, from the Erlitou period, which is often identified with the Xia dynasty, are extremely rare.  A very similar jia, also with waisted centre, flat base and three hollow triangular legs, but with slightly more elongated proportions, was recovered from the Erlitou type site at Yanshi, Henan province, and is now held by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), Beijing, see Zhongguo qngtongqi quanji, vol. 1, Beijing, 1996, pl. 14.  Another with a slightly rounder belly and an angled loop handle, from the same site and now in the Museum of the Shang City at Yanshi, is illustrated ibid, pl. 13.  Compare also a jue of the Erlitou period, sold in these rooms 31st March 2005, lot 146.