AN ARCHAIC BRONZE RITUAL FOOD VESSEL (YU) LATE SHANG / EARLY WESTERN ZHOU DYNASTY, 12TH / 11TH CENTURY BC

the deep U-shaped body with rounded sides, cast with a wide band of evenly spaced bosses enclosed within a diamond trellis ground composed of elongated leiwen, a register of zoomorphic designs divided by three bovine masks in high relief below the lipped rim, all supported on a splayed foot cast with three taotie masks reserved on a leiwen ground and divided in the center by a slightly raised flange, the interior base with an inscription, the gray-green and russet-brown patina with areas of encrustation

Collection of Dr. A. F. Philips, Eindhoven, Netherlands.
Sotheby's London, 30th March 1978, lot 1.

H. F. E. Visser, Asiatic Art in Private Collections in Holland and Belgium, Amsterdam, 1947, p. 102 - 103, pl. 11, no. 12

There are two visible cracks extending from the rim into the body, one of ca. 1 inch length, the other of 2 1/2 inch length. The surface is smooth and of even colour with some traces of cuprite remaining in the recessed areas of the design.
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.