Page 68 - Deydier The_Lippens_Collection_of_Ancient_Chinese_Bronzes

鬲鼎

18 – archaic bronze food vessel liding
SHANG DYNASTY, ANYANG / YINXU PERIOD
TH
TH
TH
CIRCA 14 – 12 / 11 CENTURIES B. C.
H.: 21.2 CM D.: 17.5 CM
Archaic bronze food vessel liding supported by three thick, hollow
legs. The body is composed of three udder-shaped sections, each
decorated with a large high relief taotie mask, with large bulbous
eyeballs, protruding nostrils and long eyebrows cast like powerful
C-shaped horns curled downwards at their ends, all on a leiwen
background. Each mask is composed of two kui dragons confront-
ing each other across a vertical flange.
A narrow band of long curly-tailed dragons shown in profile on a
leiwen background decorates the upper part of the vessel.
Two thick semi-circular handles are set on the vessel’s thin-lipped rim.
The whole vessel is covered with a dark green patina.

68