A RARE PAIR OF ARCHAIC BRONZE RITUAL WINE VESSELS (GU) SHANG DYNASTY, 13TH CENTURY BC

each of slender waisted form rising to a wide flared neck, the slightly bulbous central section cast with a wide register of two simple taotie masks in low relief centered on a shallow flange, between triple bands of narrow raised lines interrupted by two cruciform apertures, two pictograms cast on the inside of each foot, the surface of silvery-green tone with malachite encrustation (2)

Property of P. O'Connor, Esq.
Sotheby's London, 13th December 1977, lot 235.

The gu in the left of the catalogue illustration: the x-ray image reveals a crack running horizontally across the neck about 3 in. below the rim turning into fragmented lines on the other side. There is a 1/2 in. thick dent to the rim and some minor frits to the rim. The gu in the right hand side of the catalogue illustration: The x-ray image suggests that this piece is in overall good condition. It is slightly leaning to one side and the rim is slightly warped. The overall color on both pieces is of a slightly more saturated tone than in the catalogue illustration.
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.

Bronze vessels known as gu first appeared in the Erligang phase of the Shang dynasty. A simple, stout vessel with a profile curving in an unbroken arc from rim to foot, the form gradually evolved to taller, more slender shapes with a pronounced middle section. The present pair of gu are comparatively large and stout, therefore suggesting an early Shang dynasty date. Comparable excavated vessels are discussed and illustrated in Robert W. Bagley, Shang Ritual Bronzes in the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, vol. I, 1987, Washington, D.C., pp. 216-261, cat. nos. 40 - 41, and figs. 41.1 and 41.2. A related pair of gu, part of a larger set of objects uncovered near Luoyang, Henan province, now in the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, are illustrated in William White, Bronze Culture of Ancient China, Toronto, 1956, p. 133.