Bronze
THE GUINNESS ZHI
China, Late Shang Dynasty (1200 - 1046 BC)
Bronze, 5.5 in.
The vessel crisply and elegantly cast in relief against a plain ground with two registers of taotie masks on either side, flanked by pairs of descending kui dragons and divided by a narrow central band enclosing two pairs of confronted birds. The tall foot similarly decorated with confronted kui dragon pairs, while a single clan emblem is cast to the interior base. The bronze bears a rich, milky olive green patina.
Cf. Christie's. Power and Prestige: Important Early Chinese Ritual Bronzes from a Distinguished European Collection. New York, 22 Mar. 2019. Auction catalogue. “The Peng Zhou Zhi Jia Rare Small Bronze Ritual Wine Vessel,” Late Shang dynasty, 12th–11th century BC. Lot 1503.
THE ELLSWORTH CHARIOT AXLE CUFFS
China, Late Shang to Early Western Zhou Dynasty (1200 - 900 BC)
Bronze, 8.9 inches
Each having a body cast of elliptical section with a prominent horned taotie masks below large flange with a similar motif. The pair closely related to a fitting found in a Western Zhou horse-and-chariot pit at Keshengzhuang near Xi'an.
Cf. Christie’s. Important Chinese Furniture and Works of Art. New York, 19 Sept. 2025. Auction catalogue. “A Rare Bronze Axle Cuff,” Western Zhou dynasty, 11th–9th century BC. Lot 852, Property from the Shorenstein Collection, San Francisco.
A RITUAL TRIPOD VESSEL
China, Early Spring and Autumn Period (700 - 600 BC)
Bronze, 7 inches
Raised on three hollow legs splayed at the bottom and with core-filled V-shaped open backs, each cast at the top with a 'bird-scroll' motif, the motif repeated as a freize across the entire cauldron, from which rise the pair of bail handles cast with a tongue pattern, with heavy green and earth encrustation.
Cf. Jenny So. Eastern Zhou Ritual Bronzes from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections. Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, 1995. pp. 102–103, no. 6. “Eastern Zhou Ritual Bronze,” Early Spring and Autumn Period, c. 700–600 BC.
THE HO FANGDING
China, Early Western Zhou (1100 - 901 BC)
Bronze
Cast of rectangular section on each side with a prominent taotie mask flanked by clawed hooks, below a narrow frieze of snakes with rounded bulging eyes, the decoration all in relief and with linear details in intaglio, reserved on a ground of finely cast squared spirals and framed by thick flanges projecting from the corners. The interior patina with fragments of woven burial fabric.
Cf. J.J. Lally & Co. Chinese Archaic Bronzes: The Collection of Daniel Shapiro. New York, 14 Mar.–5 Apr. 2014. Exhibition catalogue. “Fangding 方鼎,” Early Western Zhou dynasty, 11th century BC. Cat. no. 4.
A CELESTIAL KIRTIMUKHA MIRROR
Cambodia, High Angkor Period (1113 - 1220 AD)
Bronze
A rare and finely cast mirror, having the handle modeled as a stylized temple antefix, reflecting the architectural ornamentation characteristic of great temples. The handle richly decorated with scrolling floral arabesques centering on a prominent toothed kīrtimukha mask, the mythical "Face of Glory" that served as a powerful protective motif throughout Khmer temple architecture.
Cf. Preah Khan Temple, Inner temple pillar, Angkor, Siem Reap, Cambodia. “Ancient Khmer bas-relief in sandstone of an Apsara deity holding a mirror of identical form,” late 12th century AD (c. AD 1191).
AN INLAID RITUAL WINE VESSEL, HU
China, Warring States Period (475–221 BC)
Bronze
The pear-shaped body have a ground of scrolling clouds, encircled by three bands cast in relief and inlaid in copper, and having a flared mouth above a copper-inlaid sawtooth band on the neck. The shoulders flanked by a pair of taotie superb masks suspending loose rings. The bronze with a heavy patina and an inscription along the footrim.
Cf. The Kai-Yin Lo Collection. Sotheby's, Hong Kong, 19–26 August 2021. A Copper-Inlaid Bronze Wine Vessel (Hu), Warring States Period. Lot 1083.
