Page 16 - 2011 - The Frank Arts Collection, Chinese Bronzes

2. Archaic bronze wine vessel jue

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Shang dynasty, 13 – 12 century BC
Height: 20.3 cm

An archaic bronze wine vessel jue supported by three triangular outwardly
extending legs. The U-shaped body is cast with two wonderful taotie masks on a
leiwen background, interspersed with three shallow notched flanges. A bovine head
surmounts the vessel’s loop handle. The vessel’s long pouring spout and opposite
beak-like protrusion are decorated with stylized cicada-shaped blades on their
undersides. The vessel’s two upright tenons are topped with “mushroom” shaped
caps.
The vessel has a nice light green patina.
Inscription:
- Some pictograms are cast beneath the vessel’s handle.

Provenance:
- Sotheby’s New York, May 8, 1981 lot n° 24.
- R. Chang, Hong Kong, 1981.
- Sotheby’s New York, December 3rd 1986, lot n° 21.
- G. Croès, Belgium 1987.
- Frank Arts Collection, Belgium.

Exhibited:
- Fleming Museum of Art and Anthropology, Burlington, Vermont, USA, 1958 –
1979.

Published:
- Van Heusden W., Ancient Chinese Bronzes, Tokyo 1953, plate V, p. 84.

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