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10 – archaic bronze wine or water vessel lei
SHANG DYNASTY, ERLIGANG PERIOD
TH
TH
TH
CIRCA 17 / 16 – 14 CENTURIES B. C.
H.: 14.9 CM D.: 9.5 CM
Rare, small, archaic bronze vessel lei, used to hold either wine or
water. The sides of the vessel’s well-rounded body rise from a low
conical foot ring to a concave neck and terminate in a flared rim.
The body is cast with a frieze of three taotie masks in low relief with
round and protruding eyes. Pairs of horizontal lines in high relief
encircle the neck and foot.
The silvery-grey patina of the vessel bears some smooth malachite
encrustation.
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