A BRONZE RITUAL TRIPOD WINE VESSEL, JUE

Description:

China, late Shang dynasty, ca. 13th - 12th c. BC
H. 17,8 cm
The deep body is raised on three tall blade-form supports, and the sides are finely cast with two taotie masks formed by pairs of addorsed birds facing and separated by narrow flanges. One mask is flanked by small descending birds and centered on a further flange, cast under the loop handle, which issues from a small bovine mask. Above is a band of small blades and longer blades on the underside of the spout and the flared collar. A pair of capped posts rises from the rim. The bronze has a green patina with encrustation.
German private collection, assembled before 2007
Compare with a jue published from the R. Hosomi collection, Osaka, published by Umehara Sueji, Nihon Shucho Shina Kodo Seika, vol. 3, Osaka, 1961, pl. 222.- Slightly chipped