AN EXTREMELY RARE MASSIVE BRONZE RITUAL WINE VESSEL AND COVER, POU

AN EXTREMELY RARE MASSIVE BRONZE RITUAL WINE VESSEL AND COVER, POU

LATE SHANG DYNASTY, ANYANG, 13TH-11TH CENTURY BC

The broad, rounded body is raised on a tall, slightly splayed foot crisply cast with three taotie masks formed by three pairs of elongated dragons confronted on heavy notched flanges. The lower register of the body is decorated with three large taotie masks with bulging eyes, each flanked by small descending kui dragons, beneath a plain, narrow band and a wider band of dragons confronted on three animal masks on the wide shoulder. The domed cover is cast with three large upturned taotie masks centered and divided by heavy notched flanges, all beneath a tall segmented knob. Each band is cast in high relief and reserved on leiwen grounds. The surface has a silvery patina with areas of malachite encrustation.

22 ½ in. (57.2 cm.) high, gold and silver-inlaid wood stand, Japanese double wood box