Page 190 - Bonhams, The H Collection, Classical Chinese Furniture, May 13, 2021 London

54
A RARE PAIR OF ARCHAIC BRONZE RITUAL WINE VESSELS,
HU
Warring States Period
Each vessel of pear-shaped body cast with three horizontal bands
of interlocking and confronted dragons, divided by narrower bands
decorated with stylised cicada and geometric designs, above a band
of twisted-rope designs at the mouth, the neck set with two taotie
masks suspending ring handles, the surface with a greyish-green
patina with some areas of encrustation.
36cm (14 3/8in) high. (2).

£30,000 - 50,000
CNY270,000 - 450,000

戰國 青銅蟠螭紋壺一對

Provenance:
Vanderven & Vanderven, LE ‘s-Hertogenbosch, n.180 (label)
An important European private collection

來源：
荷蘭斯海爾托亨博斯古董商，Vanderven & Vanderven，n.180（標籤）荘
歐洲重要私人收藏

The present pair of hu vessels is a remarkable example of the creativity 壺侈口束頸，球形腹，圈足。肩部一對鋪首銜環耳。頸飾 索紋一匝，
associated with Bronze Age design evolution, first developing in the 腹部凸起四道變形蟬紋為界，其間飾三週蟠螭紋，繁密交纏。圈足各
Western Zhou period, after which ritual bronzes continued to become 飾一周變形蟬紋。
increasingly elaborate throughout the Eastern Zhou period.
春秋及戰國時期，青銅器鑄造工藝大幅發展，紋飾風格也有別於商代
Bronze vessels hu served as wine containers during the performance 的神秘奇詭和西周的質實典重，而愈加繁複綺麗。本例主體密集往復
of sacrificial ceremonies aimed at worshipping the ancestors. These 的浮雕裝飾，應使用模印法，即以印模在尚未全乾的陶胎上連續印製
elaborate vessels were reserved for the highest-ranking members of 鑄成，是戰國時期青銅紋飾的典型例證。
society and were thus powerful indicators of the power and wealth of
their owner. 形似本例的青銅壺多見於中國北方如河南等省份，如河南輝縣趙固出
土一件公元前六至五世紀青銅壺，收錄於蘇芳淑著，《Eastern Zhou
Although hu vessels may have been in use since the Shang dynasty, Ritual Bronzes in the Arthur M. Sackler Collections》，卷三，華盛
they became popular during the Zhou dynasty, with many variants 頓，1995年，頁248，圖版42.1。另可參考紐約大都會藝術博物館
being produced at this time. The present vessel exhibits a dense 藏一件公元前五世紀青銅壺，與本例相似，見D.Leidy著，《How to
sculptural decoration that is the direct result of the use of ‘master Read Chinese Ceramics》，紐約，2015年，頁22，圖版2.1；以及倫
decor stamps’, also known as ‘pattern blocks’, which facilitated the 敦大英博物館藏一件東周青銅壺，藏品編號1960.0724.1。
mould-making process and brought about specialisation and mass
production to meet the rapid commercialisation of the bronze industry. 一件戰國晚期青銅蟠虺紋壺，售於紐約佳士得，2011年9月15日，
形制相仿，可資參考。
Hu vessels of similar shape to the present example, typically set on
a low foot patterned to resemble a twisted rope, have been mainly
excavated in Henan Province, in North China. See for example, a
hu vessel, late 6th/5th century BC, excavated from an Eastern Zhou
burial in Huixiang Zhaogu, Henan Province, illustrated by J.So, Eastern
Zhou Ritual Bronzes from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, vol.3,
Washington DC, 1995, pp.248, fig.42.1.

Compare with a similar bronze vessel hu, 5th century BC, in the
Metropolitan Museum, New York, illustrated by D.Leidy, How to Read
Chinese Ceramics, New York, 2015, p.22, fig.2.1. See also a similar
bronze hu, Eastern Zhou dynasty, in the British Museum, London,
no.1960.0724.1.

A similar bronze ritual wine vessel, hu, late Warring States period, was
sold at Christie’s New York, 15 September 2011, lot 1129.

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
188 | BONHAMS please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue.