Page 229 - Sotheby's October 3 2017 Chinese Art

These vases combine elements inspired by archaic bronze
vessels of the Shang and Western Zhou dynasty: the form
and taotie mask are reminiscent of a hu from the Qing court
collection, now in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in
The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum.
Bronze Ritual Vessels and Musical Instruments, Hong Kong,
2006, pl. 92; while the band near the foot is also found on a hu
illustrated in Jessica Rawson, Western Ritual Bronzes from the
Arthur M. Sackler Collections, vol. IIB, Cambridge, 1990, pl. 95.
The design was cleverly executed in painted gold and silver to
further echo its metal prototype.

IMPORTANT CHINESE ART 227