Page 40 - Deydier The_Lippens_Collection_of_Ancient_Chinese_Bronzes

INSCRIPTION SIMILAR EXAMPLES
– A four-character inscription inside of the rim was added later. – For closely related examples, see The Hubei Provincial Institute of
Cultural Relics and Archaeology, The Panlongcheng Site: Report of
PROVENANCE Archaeological Excavation from 1963-1994, Beijing 2001, pl. 13,
fig. 2 (PLZM2:75), and pl. 31, fig. 1 (PYWM4:1).
– Private American Collection, USA. – Another, excavated in 1960 from Baijiazhuang, Zhengzhou,
– Roger Keverne, London, UK, 2005. Henan province, and now in the collection of the Henan Museum,
– Deydier Ch. / Oriental Bronzes Ltd, London, UK, 2005. is illustrated in Wu Zhenfeng, Ancient Chinese Bronze, Wuhan
– Count & Countess Paul Lippens Collection, Brussels, Belgium, 2005. 2001, no. 69; and in Zhongguo qingtongqi quanji – 1 – Xia
Shang, Beijing 1996, p. 121 no. 122.
EXHIBITED – A larger lei, but of slightly earlier dating is published by Bagley
R.W., Shang Ritual Bronzes in the Arthur M. Sackler Collections,
– Roger Keverne, Fine and rare Chinese works of art and ceramics, Washington D.C. 1987, no. 1, p. 144-6.
Summer Exhibition, London, 17 Jun. 2005, cat. no. 1.
NOTES
PUBLISHED
– According to classical texts, the lei was used to hold either fer-
– Roger Keverne, Fine and rare Chinese works of art and ceramics, mented beverages or water.
Summer Exhibition, London 2005, cat. no. 1. – Some experts believe that the lei first appeared in bronze during
th
th
the Erligang period (17 / 16 – 14 centuries B. C.) of the Shang
th
dynasty, but they seem to be confusing the vessel with the ear-
liest form of the similar-looking zun, which is also shaped like a
large vase with a ring foot and has a concave shoulder as well as
a constricted, short neck.

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