An archaic bronze ritual pouring vessel, he, Eastern Zhou dynasty | 東周 青銅鳥首盉

An archaic bronze ritual pouring vessel, he, 

Eastern Zhou dynasty

東周 青銅鳥首盉

the globular body supported on three cabriole feet, the body cast with four registers divided by raised bands, the shoulder set with a bird-form spout with a hinged upper beak to facilitate pouring, all surmounted by an arched handle modelled as a double-headed serpent, attached to a loop behind the bird spout and another above a zoomorphic mask on the opposite side, connected to a stepped circular cover by an integral chain

l. 24.5 cm, overall h. 23.3 cm