Page 24 - Bonhams, Roger Keverne Moving on Part 1 May 11, 2021 London

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A VERY RARE AND LARGE ARCHAIC BRONZE RITUAL WINE
VESSEL, FANGLEI
Shang Dynasty
Of rectangular section with high rounded shoulders, cast with eight
large pendent triangular blades each enclosing a taotie mask above
a small cicada and one with a central raised animal mask, each side
with a broad band of further taotie divided by flanges against a leiwen
ground below a band of domed whorls alternating with kui dragons,
the shoulder cast with striding kui dragons on a leiwen ground flanking
a high-relief bovine masks on the long sides and loop handles issuing
from similar masks on the short sides, the straight neck with further
pairs of confronted dragons divided by flanges, with a pictogram of a
chariot and charioteers on the interior of the neck, Japanese box
and cover. 39cm (15 1/4in) high. (2).

£50,000 - 80,000
CNY450,000 - 720,000
Please note this Lot is to be sold at No Reserve. 本拍品不設底價

商 青銅饕餮紋方罍

Provenance: a Japanese collection, acquired before the 1960s
Masaki Art Museum, Tadaoka, Japan
Sotheby’s New York, 11-12 September 2012, lot 101

Published, Illustrated and Exhibited: Roger Keverne Ltd., Summer
Exhibition, London, 2013, no.2.

來源：日本藏家舊藏，於二十世紀六十年代前入藏
日本忠岡町正木美術館舊藏
紐約蘇富比，2012年9月11-12日，拍品編號101

展覽著錄：Roger Keverne Ltd.，《夏季展覽》，倫敦，2013年，
編號2

Fanglei existed as wine containers for only a short period during the The present vessel shares similar stylistic features with other published
late Shang to early Western Zhou dynasty, during which both highly examples dating to the Shang and Zhou dynasties, namely large taotie
decorated and plain fanglei were made and used side-by-side. Prior masks on the lower body below either birds or dragons; dragons
to the appearance of the lei, pou were used as wine containers. There on the shoulder; and birds or dragons on the foot and neck; three
was a short overlap of pou and lei and, by the late 12th century BC, handles, two on the shoulder and a third on one side of the lower
pou had essentially disappeared. body; and a mask on each side at the shoulder. The handles on the
shoulders would have allowed the vessel to be carried or tied down
Together with other bronze vessels manufactured for holding food with a cord, while a cord through the third handle would have held it
and wine, the fanglei formed part of the ritual paraphernalia employed secure as its contents were being poured out.
during the performance of important sacrifices to the ancestors of the
highest-ranking families of the time. Honoured and commemorated For a similar archaic bronze wine vessel and cover, Shang dynasty,
through the use of these precious vessels, the ancestral spirits were see Tomb of Lady Hao at Yinxu in Anyang, Beijing, 1980, pl.32,
encouraged to confer blessings on their descendants; while at the figs.1 and 2; See another example illustrated by A.Juliano, Bronze,
same time, the use of the vessel displayed, to the living, the power and Clay and Stone: Chinese Art in the C.C.Wang Family Collection,
wealth of their deceased owner. Washington, 1988, no.2. Another example in the collection of the Nezu
Art Museum, Tokyo, is illustrated by S.Mizuno, Bronzes and Jades of
Ancient China, Tokyo, 1959, pls.62 and 63. See also a similar fanglei,
with cover, Shang dynasty, said to be from Anyang, in the Museum fur
Volkerkunde, Munich, illustrated by R.W.Bagley, Shang Ritual Bronzes
in the Arthur M.Sackler Collections, Cambridge MA, 1987, fig.139.

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
22 | BONHAMS please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue.