Page 72 - Bonhams Chinese Art March 2016 New York

8094
A RARE ARCHAIC BRONZE RITUAL FOOD VESSEL, SHI YU
Late Shang dynasty
The deep bowl finely cast with a band of raised studded bosses
above a fine diamond diaper ground, beneath a border comprised of
three evenly-spaced animal heads interspersed by archaistic dragon
scrolls at neck, the gently splayed foot exhibiting a further three
taotie reserved on a leiwen ground, the interior cast with an archaic
character Shi.
9 3/4in (24.6cm) diameter
$70,000 - 90,000
商代晚期 青銅乳釘雷紋史簋（盂）
Provenance 來源
A San Francisco Bay family; according to the family, the vessel was
brought to the United States in the 1930’s by the father of the present of Dr. A. F. Philips, was sold at Sotheby’s New York, 22 March 2011,
owner.
三藩市海灣家族舊藏；於1930年代由現藏家父親帶入美國。
He Jingcheng in his thesis Shang dai shi zu yan jiu (Research on the
Shi family of the Shang Dynasty), published in Huaxia Archaeology,
vol.2, Henan, 2007, identified the Shi family as an important clan
during the Shang and Western Zhou dynasties, and members of
the family were settled in widespread regions across central China.
Archaic bronzes with inscription of the family were mostly found in
Tengzhou and Sishui in Shandong province, while some scattered
were found in Baoji and Yaoxian, Shaanxi, also in Anyang, Henan.
Yu archaic bronze food vessels were popular during the late Shang
dynasty in the Yinxu Period, circa 13th – 11th centuries BC, and
are formed as a round bowl raised by a ringed foot. Unlike the gui
food vessel which was prevalent during the succeeding Western
Zhou dynasty, yu do not have ringed handles. These were used for
making offering of grains and vegetables in ancestral rituals, often
accompanied by the tripod ding vessel used for cooking meats.
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The striking combination of diamond cartouches and boss decoration,
as seen on the present lot, appear to have been particularly admired
and used on various shaped vessels in Shaanxi province during the
Yinxu or Anyang period. Excavated examples are illustrated and
discussed by R. Bagley, Shang Ritual Bronzes in the Arthur M. Sackler
Collections, Washington, 1987, pp.504-507, no.98, and pp.510-14,
nos.100 and 101. It is evident a wide variety of decorative elements,
of different designs and in various levels of relief, were used to
demonstrate the high level of casting and skillful techniques bronze
craftsmen at Shang foundries achieved by this period. The present lot
with a narrow band of zoomorphic dragon or bird like motifs, on an
intricate leiwen ground, interspersed by raised animal masks, is a fine
example of this. A comparable yu, with very similar zoomorphic motifs
below the mouth rim is illustrated in Zhongguo qingtongqi quanji,
vol.4, Beijing, 2006, p.32, no.32. Another yu with a very similar band
of animal heads and zoomorphic designs, formerly in the Collection
lot 14. Interestingly the diamond cartouches on the present yu are
squarer in shape than most pieces of this type. Compare vessels also
with squarer form diamonds, but less uniformed and crisp, illustrated
in ibid., p.33, no.33, and Zhongguo qingtong quanji vol.2, Beijing,
2006, p.93, no. 91.
Bronze ritual vessels like the present lot, with high quality casting and
a pictogram, were extremely prized and reflect the importance of
ancestral worship. Pictograms cast on such vessels usually indicate
the individual who commissioned it.
Compare a yu of similar shape with a flaring mouth rim, cast
pictograms, but with different decorative bands, sold at Sotheby’s
New York, 11 September 2012, lot 95. Another comparable example
without a pictogram was sold at Christie’s New York, 16 September
2010, lot 2508.