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32 – archaic bronze food vessel gui
TH
TH
LATE SHANG DYNASTY, 12 – 11 CENTURIES B. C.
H.: 15 CM D.: 31 CM, ACROSS HANDLES
Finely cast bronze ritual vessel gui. The compressed globular body The vessel’s splayed foot is covered by a narrow band of design
of the vessel is decorated on each of its sides with two kui dragons featuring a pair of stylized dragons shown in profile and confront-
shown in profile and confronting each other over a vertical flange ing each other over a vertical flange on a leiwen background.
to form a large taotie mask with bulging eyes on a leiwen back- The vessel has a smooth slightly polished greyish green patina.
ground. The upper, narrower section of the vessel is cast on each
side with a frieze featuring a pair of kui dragons shown in profile
and confronting each other over a small taotie or animal mask in
the round on a leiwen background.
The sides of the vessel are embellished with two semi-circular round-
ed handles emerging from beautifully cast long-horned ram’s heads.
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