Page 38 - Christie's Chinese Works of Art March 24 and 25th, 2022 NYC

This owl-form vessel is based on a Shang dynasty
(c. 1600–c. 1046 BC) prototype, xiaozun, or
owl-shaped zun, which served as a wine-storage
or presentation jar and was used in ceremonies
honoring the spirit of a deceased ancestor. The
choice of fashioning the wine vessel in the form
of an owl has an important historical significance.
According to Liu Dunyang in Ye yu meng zhi shen
de chixiao (The owl: Deity of night and dreams), in
(inscriptions)
Collected Papers of Liu Duanyuan, Beijing, 2012,
pp. 159-171, Shang people perceived the owl
as the god of night and dreams as well as the
messenger between human and spirit worlds, on
account of its silent flight and nocturnal hunting.
The softwood base made for this owl zun
is noteworthy, as it bears numerous lengthy
inscriptions. An inscription written by Xiang
Yuanbian (1525-1590), the pioneer Ming-dynasty
connoisseur and collector, can be found on the
top of the base, which deciphers the mark cast
in the owl vessel. This inscription concludes
that “…[this ceremonial vessel] is of the highest
prestige.” On the reverse of the base, an
inscription followed by the signature of Zhang
Fengyi (1527-1613), a Jiajing-period scholar and
painter, further annotates each character shown
in the cast mark. One narrow side of this base is
carved with an inscription reading Wang Jizhi bai
guan (respectively appreciated by Wang Jizhi).
Wang Jizhi (1450-1524) is a documented scholar-
official in the Hanlin Academy.

722
PROPERTY FROM THE JUNKUNC COLLECTION PROPERTY FROM THE JUNKUNC COLLECTION

722 723
A LARGE BRONZE ARCHAISTIC ELEPHANT-FORM VESSEL, ZUN A BRONZE ARCHAISTIC OWL-FORM VESSEL AND COVER, ZUN
The vessel is cast as a stylized elephant, with the cover formed by the The vessel is cast as an owl resting on its claws and tail, with the cover formed
elephant's head and a tiger clambering up the back. The sides are decorated as the head mounted by a chilong. The front of the body is decorated with
with friezes of coiled birds and serpents, all reserved on a leiwen ground. The taotie masks and the wings to the sides are suggested by coiled dragons, all
underside of the cover and the interior of the vessel are cast with an inscription, reserved on a leiwen ground. There are cast inscriptions on the interior of the
and the patina is of a mottled, deep green tone. cover and interior of the vessel.
17æ in. (45.2 cm.) long 14º in. (36 cm.) high, inscribed softwood stand
$40,000-60,000 $40,000-60,000

PROVENANCE: PROVENANCE:
Stephen Junkunc, III (d. 1978) Collection. Stephen Junkunc, III (d. 1978) Collection.

瓊肯珍藏 瓊肯珍藏
仿古青銅象尊 仿古青銅梟尊
來源: 來源:
史蒂芬•瓊肯三世（1978年逝）珍藏 史蒂芬•瓊肯三世（1978年逝）珍藏
723 (inscriptions on stand) 723
37