Bronze China, presumably Western Zhou dynasty (ca. 1050 - 771 BC) Provenance: Property of a French noble man, in the family collection since at least 1967 Bulbous body, raised on three cylindrical, hollow and slightly tapering legs Flared mouth rim surmounted by a cover with two U-shaped handles The wall decorated with an archaic pattern of taotie masks and dragons in relief, partly on a dense leiwen ground The shoulder with inscription The surface with a black-green lacquer patina Height: c. 28 cm Good condition consistent with age Estimate by Auctionata Expert: 12,000 Euro Provenance: Property of a French noble man, in the family collection since at least 1967. Cf. a stylistically related LI vessel, which was excavated near Beijing in 1975, illustrated in Treasures from the Bronze Age of China, An Exhibition from the People’s Republic of China, Exh.cat., New York 1980, p. 116, no. 56. Cf. a similar vessel with cover is illustrated in Shang Chou Dynasty Bronze V, Li Vessels, vol. 5, Taipei 1990, p. 88, no. 32. Literatur: Cf. Hayashi Minao in In Shu Jidai Seidoki no Kenkyu, Tokyo 1984, p. 54, no. 44 and Ancient Chinese Arts in the Idemitsu Collection, Tokyo 1989, no. 10. Condition The bronze is in good condition with wear consistent with age. Minimal loss of material in the base is visible. The height is c. 28 cm. Taotie Since the Bronze age, the Shang and the early Zhou dynasty the most frequently encountered decorative motif is the taotie mask. Depicted is usually a frontal pictured animal mask that can be attributed to the Chinese writings on a legend from the 3rd century.It can be literally translated as 'the eater'. The mask consists of two halves of a face, composed of numerous ornaments, and its center is often marked by a line or a ridge. Shipping costs excl. statutory VAT and plus 2,5% (+VAT) shipping insurance. Starting Bid : 6000