Page 144 - Christies Asia Week 2015 Chinese Works of Art

PROPERTY FROM THE JOHN NICHOLAS BROWN FAMILY COLLECTION
2102
A RARE BRONZE RITUAL WINE VESSEL, HU
LATE SHANG-EARLY WESTERN ZHOU DYNASTY, 12TH-11TH CENTURY BC

Of oval section, the vessel is raised on a pedestal foot encircled by a band of angular scrolls and
pierced on the narrow sides with rectangular openings, and the body is cast in relief on each
side with a large taotie mask fanked by descending dragons with scroll bodies and large eyes,
all below a narrow band centered by a taotie mask formed by two confronted dragons fanked
by a pair of somewhat fattened tubular handles cast with abbreviated dragon designs. Two
bow-string bands encircle the neck below the shaped rim. The surface has a brown and green
patina.
11æ in. (29.7 cm.) high

$60,000-80,000

PROVENANCE:

John Nicholas Brown (1900-1979) Collection, acquired before 1940.

EXHIBITED:

On loan: Rhode Island School of Design, 1940 - June 2015.

The shape of this hu, and the use of a large horned taotie mask as the lower register of decoration,
as well as the bow-string bands on the neck, are similar to a hu in the British Museum, illustrated by
W. Watson in Ancient Chinese Bronzes, London, 1962, pl. 5, where it is dated to the Shang dynasty,
12th-11th century BC. These features can also be seen on a hu illustrated by R. d’Argencé in Bronze
Vessels of Ancient China in the Avery Brundage Collection, Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, 1977,
pl. XIV (right), which is dated late Shang, 11th century.
A Technical Examination Report is available upon request.

晚商/西周早期 青銅饕餮紋貫耳壺

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