A FINE SMALL ARCHAIC BRONZE RITUAL VESSEL ZHI

Description:

China, marked, early Western Zhou dynasty, c. 10th ct. BC
H. 11,4 cm
Of pear shape with flaring mouth rim, cast on either side with a simplified taotie encircled by a narrow band of 'diagonal scroll and eye' design. Marked inside at the base.
Collection Dr. Peter Nicolaus (1940-2020), bought 27.4.1983 from Anne Roselt in Cologne (DM 14000.-)
A related example with cover, dated to the early Western Zhou, is illustrated by J.Rawson, Western Zhou Ritual Bronzes from the Arthur M.Sackler Collections, Vol.IIB, Washington D.C., 1990, no.97. Another example from the same collection is cast with two bands of decoration on the neck and is raised on a higher foot than the current example, illustrated ibid, no.99 - Small old repairs