Lot 7
  • 7

THE YA HUO GU A BRONZE RITUAL WINE VESSEL LATE SHANG DYNASTY, 13TH-11TH CENTURY BC

Estimate
50,000 - 70,000 USD
bidding is closed

Description

  • bronze
the slender body with trumpet-like neck rising on a low footring, crisply cast around the central bulb with descending kui dragons with raised eyes divided by notched flanges between bowstring bands, the splayed foot decorated with descending birds with hooked beaks and curly crests divided by further flanges, all against a ground of intricate leiwen spiral, the patina of overall green with light malachite encrustation, a two-character inscription on interior of foot

Provenance

Private Japanese collection.

Condition

The x-ray images suggest that this piece is in overall good condition. There are traces of black inlay remaining in the recessed areas.
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.

Catalogue Note

The inscription on the present gu also appears on a gu vessel reputedly excavated from Dasikong village, Anyang city and included in Chen Mengjia, In Shu seidoki bunrui zuroku (A Corpus of Chinese Bronzes in American Collections), Tokyo, 1977, no. A485. The present piece can possibly be attributed to the same find. A gu vessel with similar decoration in the Shanghai Museum is illustrated by Chen Peifen, Xiashangzhou qingtongqi yanjiu (Research on Bronzes from the Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasties), Shanghai, 2004, vol. 2, pp. 248-249.

The box for this lot is inscribed with a research note written by Professor Matsumaru Michio, dated 2006.