Page 8 - Deydier The_Lippens_Collection_of_Ancient_Chinese_Bronzes

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01 – archaic bronze wine vessel jue
XIA DYNASTY, ERLITOU CULTURE
CIRCA 19 – 17 / 16 CENTURIES B. C.
TH
TH
TH
H.: 9.5 CM L.: 14.2 CM
Ritual bronze wine vessel jue supported on three short legs.
The vessel’s oval-shaped, constricted at the waist, has a flat base
and ends at its top in a curved, folded lip. A long narrow pouring
spout extends from one side of its top rim while the other side ends
in a horn-of like point. A semi-circular loop handle is attached to
one of the jue’s sides above one of its three legs.
It is important to note that this primitive jue has no decoration and
no upright knobs as are usually found on later bronze jue.
The vessel has a patina composed of a heavy encrustation of red-
dish cuprite on top of green malachite.

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