Page 182 - Chinese Works of Art Chritie's Mar. 22-23 2018

THE PROPERTY OF A HONG KONG PRIVATE COLLECTOR
905
A BRONZE RITUAL TRIPOD FOOD VESSEL, LI
EARLY SPRING AND AUTUMN PERIOD, 8TH-7TH CENTURY BC
The vessel is raised on three supports leading up into each deep lobe of the body, and is cast in intaglio on
the shoulder with a band of qiequ abstracted dragon patterns, below the everted rim. The surface has a
blackish patina with areas of malachite encrustation.
6º in. (16 cm.) high
$10,000-15,000

PROVENANCE
Warren King, Hong Kong, 1980s.
A li of closely related form and decoration, with an eight-character inscription, was sold at Christie’s
Paris, 13 December 2017, lot 138. (Fig.1) According to the inscription, the Paris li was made in the state
of Ni in modern day Shangdong province. Related li of this type, but decorated with dragon patterns,
include two examples illustrated in Shang Chou Dynasty Bronze V, Li Vessels, vol. 5, Taipei, 1990, p.
143, no. 155 and p. 144, no. 158, respectively; and a third example from the Sackler Collection sold at
Christie’s New York, 14 September 2009, lot 13. In discussing the Sackler li, J. So, Eastern Zhou Bronze hristie’s New York, 14 September 2009, lot 13. In discussing the Sackler li, J. So, Eastern Zhou Bronze
C
Ritual Vessels in the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, Washington D.C, 1995, p. 95, notes that according to itual Vessels in the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, Washington D.C, 1995, p. 95, notes that according to
R
t the inscription, “the vessel was cast for a member of the Guo ruling family.” he inscription, “the vessel was cast for a member of the Guo ruling family.”
春秋早期 青銅竊曲紋鬲秋早期 青銅竊曲紋鬲
春

Fig. 1. Bronze Ritual Tripod Food Vessel, Li, early Sping and Autumn period,
8th-7th century BC. Sold at Christie’s Paris, 13 December 2017, lot 138.

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