Page 160 - Bonhams Fine Chinese Art London Nov. 2019

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AN ARCHAIC BRONZE RITUAL WINE VESSEL, JUE
Shang Dynasty
The vessel with a deep U-shaped body rising from three splayed
triangular blade legs to a pointed rim opposite a guttered spout flanked
by a pair of posts capped with conical ‘fire-whorl’ medallions, the
exterior boldly cast with two taotie masks with bulging eyes separated
by flanges, one side set with a loop handle issuing from a bovine
mask, a pictogram under the handle.
19.5cm (7 5/8in) high.
£18,000 - 20,000
CNY160,000 - 180,000
商 青銅饕餮紋爵

A bronze jue, 12th-11th century BC, of similar form and decoration is
illustrated by R.Bagley, Shang Ritual Bronzes in the Arthur M. Sackler
Collection, Washington D.C., 1987, p.195, pl.18 and p.251, fig.36.2.
Further examples can be found in the collection of the British Museum,
see W.Watson, Ancient Chinese Bronzes, London, 1977, pl.10b; and
in the Shanghai Museum, see Shanghai Museum: Ancient Chinese
Bronze Gallery, Shanghai, p.9. See also two jue with similar taotie
designs, illustrated by C.Deydier, Archaic Chinese Bronzes, Paris,
1995, p.250, pl.3.

A related bronze jue, Shang dynasty, was sold at Bonhams London,
16 May 2019, lot 3.

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