A RARE CHINESE RITUAL WINE VESSEL AND COVER, HU

WARRING STATES PERIOD, LATE 6TH CENTURY BC

The body cast with bands of raised studs on a leiwen ground, the shoulder with mask handles supporting a chain with a double snake-shaped handle, the neck with four small rings, the lid with four further loose rings and with a central spiralling roundel, the surface with a malachite encrustation, resting on a foot simulating twisted rope, 37.5cm. (2)

Provenance: from a European private collection.

Cf. J So, Eastern Zhou Ritual Bronzes from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, Vol.III, p.251, fig.42.2 for a closely related example, the bequest of Dr Arnold Knapp, Harvard University Art Museum.