Page 44 - Christies IMportant Chinese Art Sept 26 2020 NYC

PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE AMERICAN COLLECTION
1526
A RARE LARGE AND FINELY CAST BRONZE RITUAL TRIPOD
FOOD VESSEL AND COVER, DING
SPRING AND AUTUMN PERIOD, EARLY TO MID-6TH CENTURY BC
The vessel has a deep, rounded body raised on three tall legs that splay at A bronze ding and cover of similar proportions but of smaller size (24. 3
the bottom, and is flat cast around the sides with two registers of abstract cm. high), with related bands of flat-cast decoration and with a similar
interlaced dragons, all above a frieze of pendent lappets each containing feline with granulated body occupying the central medallion on the cover,
a taotie mask set amidst hooked scrolls and curls. Further similar bands is illustrated by Jenny So in Eastern Zhou Ritual Bronzes from the Arthur
of abstract dragons decorate the inward and outward faces of the upright M. Sackler Collections, The Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, 1995, pp.
handles as well as two bands of the shallow domed cover. Below these two 126-8, no. 12, where it is dated Eastern Zhou, middle Spring and Autumn
bands is a narrow plain band trisected by three fixed ring finials and an outer period, early to mid-6th century BC. Also illustrated, p. 129, fig. 12.1, is one
band of angular scroll with curled ends reserved on a leiwen ground. The of three large ding very similar to the current vessel, but of smaller size (40
center of the cover is cast with a medallion enclosing a feline with granulated cm. high), from Shanxi Houma Shangmacun, which also features a similar
body set within a narrow band of dragons. The bronze has an attractive feline medallion in the center of the cover. So also illustrates, p. 135, fig.
mottled grey and blue-green patina. 13.4, a fragment of a 6th-century BC ceramic casting mold from Shanxi
Houma Niucun, which features abstract interlaced dragon decoration
20æ in. (52.7 cm.) wide across handles
very similar to that seen on the current vessel, “in which the dragon heads
have become squared, undetailed forms rendered flush with the vessel
$350,000-450,000
surface.”
PROVENANCE:
Gisèle Croës, Brussels, May 2000.
EXHIBITED:
New York, Gisèle Croës, Light for the After-Life. Selected Objects, 24-29
March 2000.
LITERATURE:
Gisèle Croës, Light for the After-Life. Selected Objects, Brussels, 2000, pp.
22-23.

春秋 青銅龍紋三足大蓋鼎

(detail of cover)