An archaic bronze ritual food steamer (Yan), Eastern Zhou dynasty, early Warring States period | 東周 戰國初 青銅交龍紋鋪首耳甗

An archaic bronze ritual food steamer (Yan)

Eastern Zhou dynasty, early Warring States period

東周 戰國初 青銅交龍紋鋪首耳甗

comprised of two parts, the lower vessel of globular form supported on three inverted conical feet, the widest part of the body encircled by a raised flange with three narrow bands of cowry shell pattern below two bands of low-relief interlocking snakes, the shoulder set with a pair of masks each suspending a loose ring handle, all surmounted by a short, straight neck designed to fit neatly into the conforming foot of the bowl-shaped upper vessel, the deep U-shaped sides cast with three further bands of interlocking snakes and similarly set with mask-and-loose-ring handles below the waisted everted rim, the well with three bands of radiating apertures to allow steam to rise, the patina principally gray with patches of green (2)

Height 14½ in., 36.8 cm