Page 20 - March 17 2017 Chinese Art NYC, Christies

PROPERTY FROM A JAPANESE PRIVATE COLLECTION

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A LARGE BRONZE RITUAL WINE VESSEL AND COVER, JU YOU

LATE SHANG DYNASTY, 13TH-11TH CENTURY BC
The broad pear-shaped body is raised on a splayed foot cast with a band of stylized dragons, and the
shoulder is cast with a further decorative band interrupted by an animal-mask in relief at the center of
each side, the twisted-rope, swing handle is joined at the shoulder by two simple loops and the domed
cover is surmounted by a hollow ovoid fnial. The exterior and interior surfaces are covered with a mottled
encrustation of bright malachite and azurite, and the interior and cover are both cast with a six-character
inscription reading Ju zuo zu ding zun yi.
12º in. (31.1 cm.) high, two inscribed Japanese wood boxes, the outer box inscribed and signed by
Hata Zoroku
$60,000-80,000

PROVENANCE

In Japan prior to 1923.
The inscription may be translated as “Ju made this ritual vessel for grandfather Ding.”
The Ju is a Shang dynasty clan, which is often associated with the oficial title ce in bronze inscriptions.
Ce, which literally translates to ‘bamboo slips’, is an important oficial position in the Shang and Zhou
dynasties. People who hold this position are responsible for compiling government documents and
drafting decrees for the kings. The association between the Ju clan and ce in bronze inscriptions
might suggest that the ce is a hereditary position in the Ju clan. A line drawing of a you vessel and
cover of similar form and decoration but lacking the handle is published in the Song dynasty bronze
catalogue Xuanhe bogutu, vol. 9, p. 29. It is interesting to note that the bogutu you bears a four-character
inscription, Ju ce zu ding, which is plausibly dedicated to the same zu ding as the inscription on the
present you.
商晚期 青銅䀠豕卣

(inscription)

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