AN INSCRIBED BRONZE RITUAL WINE VESSEL, GUI LATE SHANG / EARLY WESTERN ZHOU DYNASTY

the body of compressed globular form with broad flaring mouth, cast around the exterior with a taotie band divided by two large loop handles with hooked pendants issuing from animal masks, all supported on a high spreading foot similarly cast with a taotie band, the interior with three-character inscription, the metal patinated to a dark gun-metal tone with light malachite and azurite encrustation

For a very similar gui see, J.Rawson, Western Zhou Ritual Bronzes from the Arthur M.Sackler Collections, Washington, 1990, Catalogue no.42.