Page 90 - Deydier VOL.2 Meiyintang Collection of Chinese Bronses

167. Ritual bronze wine vessel jia
Shang dynasty, Erligang period, circa 16 - 14 centuries bc.
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商代二里岡時期青銅斝
Height: 34 cm

A ritual bronze tripod vessel used for warming fermented Provenance:
beverages. The vessel’s flat-bottomed body is composed ▪ Private European Collection.
of two parts: a slightly bulging belly, and a tall recessed ▪ Mahé - Michon Collection, Paris, France.
neck that gradually opens outwards as it rises towards ▪ Galerie Christian Deydier, Paris, France.
its rim. The belly is decorated with three large, deeply
cast taotie masks with small, protruding, rectangular Exhibited:
eyes. The bottom of the vessel’s neck is decorated with a ▪ Trésors de la Chine ancienne, Bronzes Rituels De La
single register of three primitive taotie masks bordered Collection Meiyintang, Musée des arts asiatiques
above and below by two narrower bands of small circular Guimet, Paris 13 mars - 10 juin 2013, catalogue no. 11.
patterns.
Two high, mushroom-like tenons, each consisting of Published:
a square stem surmounted by an umbrella-like top ▪ Guimet, Musée des arts asiatiques, Trésors de la
decorated with geometrical patterns, emerge from the Chine ancienne, Bronzes Rituels De La Collection
vessel’s upper rim. From the side of the vessel, a very Meiyintang, Paris 2013, p. 30 - 31, no. 11.
simple handle extends.
Similar examples:
The vessel has a nice light-brown patina. ▪ A similar jia from the Shanghai Museum is published
in Zhongguo Qingtongqi Quanji, Vol. 1 - Xia - Shang,
Beijing 1996, p. 94, no. 69.
▪ Four very similar jia of similar design, now in the
Shanghai Museum, are illustrated by Chen Peifen,
Xia Shang Zhou Qingtongqi Yanjiu, Xia Shang Bian,
Shanghai 2004, p. 75 - 83.
▪ Another jia, excavated in 1973 at Erlitou, Zhengzhou,
Henan Province, is illustrated in Henan Chutu Shang
Zhou Qingtongqi, Vol. 1, Beijing 1981, no. 55.

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