Chinese Ritual Bronzes
Shang - Ritual Bronzes from Anyang
2017 SOLD for $ 37M including premium
Chinese history emerges from the mists of legend with the Shang dynasty that lasted more than five centuries. Bronze comes in supplement to the pottery and is used especially for ritual vessels. For the excitement of the archaeologists the Shang and Zhou bronzes have preserved a perfect condition thanks to a sufficient content of tin. Their finely incised decoration of tight mystical figures and motifs in reserves is neither corroded nor worn.
The long reign of Wu Din marks the culmination of the Shang around 3250 years ago. He resides in the new capital Yinxu which is today in the territory of the city of Anyang.
The tomb of Fu Hao, discovered in 1976, had never been visited by looters. This wife of Wu Din had a considerable political influence, even becoming the supreme general of the armies. Her tomb is a complete catalog of the art of the Shang, including 1800 pieces mainly in jade, bone, bronze and stone, not forgetting 6,900 cowry shells that served as money and 16 skeletons of sacrificed slaves.
The ritual bronzes of the Shang had a wide variety of shapes suitable for storage and cooking. The rites defined the quantities of sacrificial vessels authorized according to the social position. Under the Zhou who overthrew the Shang the king could use 9 ding and 8 gui while a nobleman was limited to 3 ding and 2 gui. The tomb of Fu Hao contained the incredible quantity of 200 ritual bronzes.
On March 15 in New York, Christie's disperses the Chinese art collection of the Fujita Museum in Osaka, including four Shang bronzes. The catalog indicates for each of these pieces an acquisition prior to 1940 by the museum. Their similarity to the bronzes of Fu Hao and the comparable or sometimes superior quality of their technique and of their mystical decoration suggests that these four vessels came from a same royal tomb. They have kept their cover, except of course the zun which never has one.
Lot 523, estimated $ 6M, is a 52 cm high vessel with a complex three-body shape. By its large flared mouth (zun) of square section (fang), it is a fangzun.
Lot 524, estimated $ 5M, is a fanglei 63 cm high including its cover. By comparison the Father Ji's fanglei, sold for $ 9.2M including premium by Christie's on March 20, 2001, is 64 cm high without its lid which is lost and is dated from the Shang-Zhou transition two centuries later.
Lot 525, estimated $ 4M, is a pou 57 cm high. Its two-body shape with a round belly on a truncated cone base is archaic but its decoration is comparable to the other pieces in the sale.
Lot 526 is the sensational zoomorphic gong that was the subject of a previous discussion in this column.
Please watch the video shared by Christie's to introduce the sale.
RESULTS including premium :
Fangzun : $ 37M
Fanglei : $ 34M
Pou : $ 27M
The long reign of Wu Din marks the culmination of the Shang around 3250 years ago. He resides in the new capital Yinxu which is today in the territory of the city of Anyang.
The tomb of Fu Hao, discovered in 1976, had never been visited by looters. This wife of Wu Din had a considerable political influence, even becoming the supreme general of the armies. Her tomb is a complete catalog of the art of the Shang, including 1800 pieces mainly in jade, bone, bronze and stone, not forgetting 6,900 cowry shells that served as money and 16 skeletons of sacrificed slaves.
The ritual bronzes of the Shang had a wide variety of shapes suitable for storage and cooking. The rites defined the quantities of sacrificial vessels authorized according to the social position. Under the Zhou who overthrew the Shang the king could use 9 ding and 8 gui while a nobleman was limited to 3 ding and 2 gui. The tomb of Fu Hao contained the incredible quantity of 200 ritual bronzes.
On March 15 in New York, Christie's disperses the Chinese art collection of the Fujita Museum in Osaka, including four Shang bronzes. The catalog indicates for each of these pieces an acquisition prior to 1940 by the museum. Their similarity to the bronzes of Fu Hao and the comparable or sometimes superior quality of their technique and of their mystical decoration suggests that these four vessels came from a same royal tomb. They have kept their cover, except of course the zun which never has one.
Lot 523, estimated $ 6M, is a 52 cm high vessel with a complex three-body shape. By its large flared mouth (zun) of square section (fang), it is a fangzun.
Lot 524, estimated $ 5M, is a fanglei 63 cm high including its cover. By comparison the Father Ji's fanglei, sold for $ 9.2M including premium by Christie's on March 20, 2001, is 64 cm high without its lid which is lost and is dated from the Shang-Zhou transition two centuries later.
Lot 525, estimated $ 4M, is a pou 57 cm high. Its two-body shape with a round belly on a truncated cone base is archaic but its decoration is comparable to the other pieces in the sale.
Lot 526 is the sensational zoomorphic gong that was the subject of a previous discussion in this column.
Please watch the video shared by Christie's to introduce the sale.
RESULTS including premium :
Fangzun : $ 37M
Fanglei : $ 34M
Pou : $ 27M
A Late Shang Dynasty Bronze Ritual Wine Vessel from the Fujita Museum sold for $37,207,500, a #worldauctionrecord for an archaic bronze. pic.twitter.com/VcxYG3BPkF
— Christie's (@ChristiesInc) March 16, 2017
Shang - Fanglei
2017 SOLD for $ 34M including premium by Christie's
Narrated above
A Bronze Ritual Wine Vessel & Cover, Fanglei, from the Late Shang Dynasty from the Fujita Museum sold for $33,847,500 #AsianArtWeek pic.twitter.com/FIfq9JsYxm
— Christie's (@ChristiesInc) March 16, 2017
Shang - Pou
2017 SOLD for $ 27M including premium by Christie's
Narrated above
A Late Shang Dynasty Massive Bronze Ritual Wine Vessel and Cover, Pou, from the Fujita Museum sold for $27,127,500 #AsianArtWeek pic.twitter.com/v1HPYtI9BA
— Christie's (@ChristiesInc) March 16, 2017
Shang - The Ritual Ram
2017 SOLD for $ 27M including premium
The bronze art for Chinese vessels was diversified at the end of the Shang dynasty, from 3300 to 3050 years ago. The various shapes are adapted to their ritual uses. Li, yi, lei, fangyi, fanglei and hu examples were previously discussed in this column.
The gong and the zun may both become zoomorphic with a high degree of three-dimensional realism. The zun is designed for its ease of pouring, with a spout lined with broad lips. The gong or guang is an open vessel equipped with a removable lid over its entire upper surface.
On March 15 in New York, Christie's sells a gong in the form of a ram 22 cm long, lot 526 estimated $ 6M. This piece is de-accessioned from the Fujita Museum in Osaka.
The back of the beast consists of the lid which is elongated to the superb head with its C-shaped horns. The body including the cover is embellished in shallow relief with the same traditional motifs as in the geometrically shaped vessels : taotie, stylized beasts. The thick legs ensure the stability of the vase. The back is surmounted by a dragon and a bird positioned like a handle.
The catalog of the auction house considers twelve other complete quadruped gong or zun examples of Shang period, all of them kept in museums : buffalos, elephants, fabulous animals, a boar, an elephant. The last one offered at auction was a buffalo zun in 1988.
Considering the sacred or sacrificial use of some of these animals, the extreme rarity of these pieces may surprise. It is probably due to a high difficulty of execution.
The gong and the zun may both become zoomorphic with a high degree of three-dimensional realism. The zun is designed for its ease of pouring, with a spout lined with broad lips. The gong or guang is an open vessel equipped with a removable lid over its entire upper surface.
On March 15 in New York, Christie's sells a gong in the form of a ram 22 cm long, lot 526 estimated $ 6M. This piece is de-accessioned from the Fujita Museum in Osaka.
The back of the beast consists of the lid which is elongated to the superb head with its C-shaped horns. The body including the cover is embellished in shallow relief with the same traditional motifs as in the geometrically shaped vessels : taotie, stylized beasts. The thick legs ensure the stability of the vase. The back is surmounted by a dragon and a bird positioned like a handle.
The catalog of the auction house considers twelve other complete quadruped gong or zun examples of Shang period, all of them kept in museums : buffalos, elephants, fabulous animals, a boar, an elephant. The last one offered at auction was a buffalo zun in 1988.
Considering the sacred or sacrificial use of some of these animals, the extreme rarity of these pieces may surprise. It is probably due to a high difficulty of execution.
Christie’s NY to Offer Rare Chinese Art from Fujita Museum at 2017 Spring Sale https://t.co/Ag1ow96cfp #Auctions pic.twitter.com/5puxLHtGHv
— ARTINFO HongKong (@ARTINFOHongKong) October 23, 2016
Shang - Chinese Ritual Bronze
2010 SOLD 2.15 M$ including premium
China's Bronze Age reached its artistic peak in late Shang Dynasty, 3200-3100 years ago. The most beautiful objects, finely decorated and inscribed, have a ritual use.
On March 20, 2001, Christie's sold $ 9.2 million including premium in New York a baluster shaped wine jar that had belonged to the collection of the antique dealer CT Loo.
On September 16 a Li type tripod vessel which had been purchased to Loo long time ago is presented by the same auction house, lot 852.
The decor is of Taotie type. Zoomorphic figures are positioned symmetrically to the features which extend over each of the three legs. They are intentionally limited to the eyes and horns, reinforcing the impression of abstraction provided by the fine geometric pattern that covers the rest of the surface. The effect is both severe and powerful.
POST SALE COMMENT
The sale of antique Chinese bronzes is successful. The Li vessel discussed above has been sold $ 2.15 million including premium.
A few lots later, a Zhou covered wine vessel, newer by about two centuries, has reached almost $ 2 million including premium.
In the same sale, a Shang bronze wine vessel was sold $ 3.3M including premium.
On March 20, 2001, Christie's sold $ 9.2 million including premium in New York a baluster shaped wine jar that had belonged to the collection of the antique dealer CT Loo.
On September 16 a Li type tripod vessel which had been purchased to Loo long time ago is presented by the same auction house, lot 852.
The decor is of Taotie type. Zoomorphic figures are positioned symmetrically to the features which extend over each of the three legs. They are intentionally limited to the eyes and horns, reinforcing the impression of abstraction provided by the fine geometric pattern that covers the rest of the surface. The effect is both severe and powerful.
POST SALE COMMENT
The sale of antique Chinese bronzes is successful. The Li vessel discussed above has been sold $ 2.15 million including premium.
A few lots later, a Zhou covered wine vessel, newer by about two centuries, has reached almost $ 2 million including premium.
In the same sale, a Shang bronze wine vessel was sold $ 3.3M including premium.
Shang - No You for Fu Hao
2018 SOLD for $ 1.94M including premium
On March 21 in New York, Sotheby's sells an archaic Chinese bronze 29 cm high, lot 583 estimated $ 1.5M. As often in this category, this covered pot in excellent condition attests to the great metal craftsmanship in the mid Shang period. This piece has kept intact its arched handle, loops and removable cover. It is inlaid with malachite in some places.
The surface is chiseled in low relief with the exception of the protrudent animal masks and globular taotie eyes, with a density of patterns that matches the complexity of its ritual use. This ovoid container on a solid base and surmounted by a cylindrical neck is identified as a 'you'.
In terms of Shang ritual objects, the chronological mark is the tomb of Fu Hao, closed about 3,250 years ago and discovered untouched in 1976 with 1,800 objects in various materials that constitute a fabulous time capsule. Fu Hao was the consort of a Shang emperor who resided in the new 'Yinxu' capital of that dynasty in present-day Anyang.
The ovoid 'you' has no exact equivalent in Fu Hao's estate and is probably later. Like many other archaic bronzes, it is nevertheless a copy of ceramic wares that predate Yinxu. Its user friendly maneuverability looks obvious.
The shape of the pot is however comparable to the 'pou' without handle from the former collection of the Fujita Museum, of bigger size, which was sold for $ 27M including premium by Christie's on March 15, 2017. By the depth of its carving this 'pou' is considered as contemporary with Fu Hao.
The surface is chiseled in low relief with the exception of the protrudent animal masks and globular taotie eyes, with a density of patterns that matches the complexity of its ritual use. This ovoid container on a solid base and surmounted by a cylindrical neck is identified as a 'you'.
In terms of Shang ritual objects, the chronological mark is the tomb of Fu Hao, closed about 3,250 years ago and discovered untouched in 1976 with 1,800 objects in various materials that constitute a fabulous time capsule. Fu Hao was the consort of a Shang emperor who resided in the new 'Yinxu' capital of that dynasty in present-day Anyang.
The ovoid 'you' has no exact equivalent in Fu Hao's estate and is probably later. Like many other archaic bronzes, it is nevertheless a copy of ceramic wares that predate Yinxu. Its user friendly maneuverability looks obvious.
The shape of the pot is however comparable to the 'pou' without handle from the former collection of the Fujita Museum, of bigger size, which was sold for $ 27M including premium by Christie's on March 15, 2017. By the depth of its carving this 'pou' is considered as contemporary with Fu Hao.
200+ lots of Important Chinese Art will go under the hammer on 21 March. Explore the selection ahead of #SothebysAsianArt exhibition opening on 15 March, a part of #AsiaWeekNY: https://t.co/YyOaFnIzSa pic.twitter.com/Y2ELxA4ijx
— Sotheby's (@Sothebys) February 25, 2018
Shang - Yi and Lei for Millet Wine
2011 SOLD 1.2 M£ including premium
During the later Shang Dynasty, 3200 years ago, the bronze achieved a tremendous development, both as the ideal material for making ritual utensils and also, already, as art. This alloy of copper and tin thus succeeded to pure copper whose resistance is lower.
Then appeared different forms of vessels for keeping millet wine or for food cooking. They are more or less carved depending on the social rank of their owner, the best known figure being the monster face named taotie. As in Egypt, these pieces often accompanied the burial of the dead.
The fangyi, or simply yi, is one of the most spectacular forms of wine vessels. Rectangular with a cover, it is intended for princely use.
A yi is a for sale by Bonhams in London on May 12. It has the rare feature of domed cover. Difficult to manufacture, the yi models were obsoleted during the transition period from Shang to Zhou, 3050 years ago.
Finely decorated including taotie, birds and inscriptions, this piece 28 cm high is estimated £ 700K. See it at the bottom of the page in the article shared by Daily Mail. The image at the top shows a beautiful fangzuo gui vessel of the Western Zhou, 32 cm high. It is the next lot in the same sale, estimated £ 500K.
Let us now look at the history of prices.
In the sale of the fabulous Anthony Hardy collection at Christie's on December 16, 2010, the best result, $ 3.3 million including premium, was recorded on a fangyi. My article on that sale had selected a li tripod cauldron, sold $ 2.15 million including premium.
The fanglei is a wine jar whose design is however close to the yi. A fanglei with curved shapes, 64 cm high, was sold for $ 9.25 million including premium by Christie's on March 20, 2001.
POST SALE COMMENT
The yi vase which was the subject of my article has exceeded its estimate. Sold £ 1.05 million before fees, 1.2 million including premium, it is confirming its quality of rare piece.
The Zhou vessel was sold £ 550K before fees, 636K including premium, not surprisingly, within its estimate range.
Then appeared different forms of vessels for keeping millet wine or for food cooking. They are more or less carved depending on the social rank of their owner, the best known figure being the monster face named taotie. As in Egypt, these pieces often accompanied the burial of the dead.
The fangyi, or simply yi, is one of the most spectacular forms of wine vessels. Rectangular with a cover, it is intended for princely use.
A yi is a for sale by Bonhams in London on May 12. It has the rare feature of domed cover. Difficult to manufacture, the yi models were obsoleted during the transition period from Shang to Zhou, 3050 years ago.
Finely decorated including taotie, birds and inscriptions, this piece 28 cm high is estimated £ 700K. See it at the bottom of the page in the article shared by Daily Mail. The image at the top shows a beautiful fangzuo gui vessel of the Western Zhou, 32 cm high. It is the next lot in the same sale, estimated £ 500K.
Let us now look at the history of prices.
In the sale of the fabulous Anthony Hardy collection at Christie's on December 16, 2010, the best result, $ 3.3 million including premium, was recorded on a fangyi. My article on that sale had selected a li tripod cauldron, sold $ 2.15 million including premium.
The fanglei is a wine jar whose design is however close to the yi. A fanglei with curved shapes, 64 cm high, was sold for $ 9.25 million including premium by Christie's on March 20, 2001.
POST SALE COMMENT
The yi vase which was the subject of my article has exceeded its estimate. Sold £ 1.05 million before fees, 1.2 million including premium, it is confirming its quality of rare piece.
The Zhou vessel was sold £ 550K before fees, 636K including premium, not surprisingly, within its estimate range.
Shang - Two Addorsed Owls
2013 SOLD 1.14 M$ including premium
PRE SALE DISCUSSION
On March 22 in New York, Christie's sells a bronze ritual vessel of 'xiao you' type. Made at the end of the Shang Dynasty about 3100 years ago, this small utensil 20 cm high overall is a nice example of artistic design, already much advanced in China at that time.
The owl is one of the favorite themes of this zoomorphic art. The cover is decorated with globular eyes, a prominent beak and a small tuft of feathers on the top of the skull to serve as a handle. The belly of the vessel is decorated with spiral wings in bas relief and rests on zoomorphic feet.
The xiao you for sale by Christie's is composed of two addorsed owls. The decoration supersedes the zoomorphic theme. Its elegant patterns are not so much overloaded, which is a remarkable feature for that time, but two pairs of dragons still manage to sneak behind the heads of the birds.
With its beautiful semicircular handle, its upturned beaks that can serve as handles, the four feet firmly positioned and the balanced proportions of the wine vessel, this artwork seems to provide a perfect functionality, three millennia before the appearance of "design".
POST SALE COMMENT
Good result, $ 1.14 million including premium, for this vessel whose estimate had not been published.
On March 22 in New York, Christie's sells a bronze ritual vessel of 'xiao you' type. Made at the end of the Shang Dynasty about 3100 years ago, this small utensil 20 cm high overall is a nice example of artistic design, already much advanced in China at that time.
The owl is one of the favorite themes of this zoomorphic art. The cover is decorated with globular eyes, a prominent beak and a small tuft of feathers on the top of the skull to serve as a handle. The belly of the vessel is decorated with spiral wings in bas relief and rests on zoomorphic feet.
The xiao you for sale by Christie's is composed of two addorsed owls. The decoration supersedes the zoomorphic theme. Its elegant patterns are not so much overloaded, which is a remarkable feature for that time, but two pairs of dragons still manage to sneak behind the heads of the birds.
With its beautiful semicircular handle, its upturned beaks that can serve as handles, the four feet firmly positioned and the balanced proportions of the wine vessel, this artwork seems to provide a perfect functionality, three millennia before the appearance of "design".
POST SALE COMMENT
Good result, $ 1.14 million including premium, for this vessel whose estimate had not been published.
Later Shang - Fangyi
2010 SOLD for $ 3.3M including premium by Christie's
Link to catalogue.
Later Shang - A Fangyi for a Lady
2013 SOLD 2.36 M$ including premium
During the Chinese bronze age, which extends from the Shang dynasty to the early Zhou, art is already socially discriminating. The most outstanding pieces were found in the tombs of princes and rich.
There is no doubt on the prestige of the millet wine ritual vessels known as fangyi. Of course, these pieces are not dated, but the comparison of forms allows a fairly accurate chronology.
On September 19 in New York, Christie's sells a fangyi made in the later Shang period, 3100-3000 years ago. The slightly tapered shape of the square vase is an example of the last designs of yi models. It has retained its cover, as it is often the case, is 22 cm high overall, and had belonged to Eskenazi. Here is the link to the catalog.
The ornament is made of rounded lines of exceptional clarity in reserved plates covering a flat background named leiwen. It contains several registers with the eyes of taotie figures and the usual fabulous animals. Very rare for the Chinese art of that period, elephants are included, but too stylized to be really recognizable.
The repetitive dedication is admirable for its sharpness. It demonstrates that the piece was created for the probably posthumous honor of a woman, but it could not be fully deciphered.
POST SALE COMMENT
This vessel with unusual characteristics was sold for $ 2.36 million including premium.
I invite you to watch the video shared by Christie's to introduce this collection :
There is no doubt on the prestige of the millet wine ritual vessels known as fangyi. Of course, these pieces are not dated, but the comparison of forms allows a fairly accurate chronology.
On September 19 in New York, Christie's sells a fangyi made in the later Shang period, 3100-3000 years ago. The slightly tapered shape of the square vase is an example of the last designs of yi models. It has retained its cover, as it is often the case, is 22 cm high overall, and had belonged to Eskenazi. Here is the link to the catalog.
The ornament is made of rounded lines of exceptional clarity in reserved plates covering a flat background named leiwen. It contains several registers with the eyes of taotie figures and the usual fabulous animals. Very rare for the Chinese art of that period, elephants are included, but too stylized to be really recognizable.
The repetitive dedication is admirable for its sharpness. It demonstrates that the piece was created for the probably posthumous honor of a woman, but it could not be fully deciphered.
POST SALE COMMENT
This vessel with unusual characteristics was sold for $ 2.36 million including premium.
I invite you to watch the video shared by Christie's to introduce this collection :
Shang-Zhou The Masterpiece of Father Ji
2001 SOLD 9.2 M$ including premium by Christie's
2014 Withdrawn
PRE 2014 SALE DISCUSSION
1
On March 20 in New York, Christie's sells one of the most outstanding Chinese archaic vases which have survived until now, characterized by its monumental size, 64 cm high, and by the superb quality of its bronze casting.
This ritual wine vessel is a fanglei with square section, one of the most prestigious types that reached its apogee 3100 years ago in the transitional period between the Shang and the Western Zhou. It does not have its cover.
Its decoration in high relief over multiple registers meets a classic iconography but is particularly abundant and expressive : taotie, animals, dragons, masks. It includes an inscription in six characters: Father Ji made on commission (or commissioned) this sacred vessel.
This exceptional piece had already been featured at auction. On 20 March 2001, it was sold for $ 9.2 million including premium by Christie's.
2
The masterpiece of Chinese archaic art was removed from auction and sold to a group of collectors in favor of the Hunan Provincial Museum.
I invite you to watch the video shared by Christie's :
1
On March 20 in New York, Christie's sells one of the most outstanding Chinese archaic vases which have survived until now, characterized by its monumental size, 64 cm high, and by the superb quality of its bronze casting.
This ritual wine vessel is a fanglei with square section, one of the most prestigious types that reached its apogee 3100 years ago in the transitional period between the Shang and the Western Zhou. It does not have its cover.
Its decoration in high relief over multiple registers meets a classic iconography but is particularly abundant and expressive : taotie, animals, dragons, masks. It includes an inscription in six characters: Father Ji made on commission (or commissioned) this sacred vessel.
This exceptional piece had already been featured at auction. On 20 March 2001, it was sold for $ 9.2 million including premium by Christie's.
2
The masterpiece of Chinese archaic art was removed from auction and sold to a group of collectors in favor of the Hunan Provincial Museum.
I invite you to watch the video shared by Christie's :
Bronze Age for the Western Zhou
2013 SOLD 6.7 M$ including premium
The Western Zhou overthrew the Shang but continued their traditions, at least initially. At this time of transition, the preferred ritual piece is the bronze vessel holding the sacred food or the millet wine.
Often made for princely usage, these objects were however not uncommon and many of them have survived. They are very finely decorated, usually including mythical beasts, and their inscriptions invite the decoding of the beginnings of Chinese civilization.
Their use was perhaps funeral but certainly ceremonial. Almost all of them are adorned with several Taotie, these pairs of eyes whose obsessive gaze enables a ritual communication between the living and the dead.
The Gui vessels of the Western Zhou have a complex shape with two bodies. The upper part is bellied, between two large handles. The base is a parallelepiped with sharp right angles. The entire surface is decorated on both parts.
A beautiful specimen is estimated $ 2M, for sale by Sotheby's in New York on September 17, lot 3. Executed 3000 years ago, this zuo bao yi gui food vessel has a peculiarity: the Taotie eyes of the base are all on both sides of the edges, increasing the hypnotic power.
This is the top lot among ten Chinese archaic bronzes from the collection of an Austrian architect. Other pieces from the same collection, from Zhou to Han, will be sold by Nagel in Stuttgart between October 30 and November 2.
POST SALE COMMENT
The ten lots auctioned by Sotheby's from the Julius Eberhardt collection were an exceptional group. Half of them exceeded $ 1M. The top three are bronze vessels of the Western Zhou.
As expected, the most interesting piece is the zuo bao yi gui, sold for $ 6.7 million including premium.
Let us also mention from the same period a wine pot sold for $ 3.1 million including premium and a cylindrical vase with an elegant flared neck sold for $ 2.16 million including premium.
Often made for princely usage, these objects were however not uncommon and many of them have survived. They are very finely decorated, usually including mythical beasts, and their inscriptions invite the decoding of the beginnings of Chinese civilization.
Their use was perhaps funeral but certainly ceremonial. Almost all of them are adorned with several Taotie, these pairs of eyes whose obsessive gaze enables a ritual communication between the living and the dead.
The Gui vessels of the Western Zhou have a complex shape with two bodies. The upper part is bellied, between two large handles. The base is a parallelepiped with sharp right angles. The entire surface is decorated on both parts.
A beautiful specimen is estimated $ 2M, for sale by Sotheby's in New York on September 17, lot 3. Executed 3000 years ago, this zuo bao yi gui food vessel has a peculiarity: the Taotie eyes of the base are all on both sides of the edges, increasing the hypnotic power.
This is the top lot among ten Chinese archaic bronzes from the collection of an Austrian architect. Other pieces from the same collection, from Zhou to Han, will be sold by Nagel in Stuttgart between October 30 and November 2.
POST SALE COMMENT
The ten lots auctioned by Sotheby's from the Julius Eberhardt collection were an exceptional group. Half of them exceeded $ 1M. The top three are bronze vessels of the Western Zhou.
As expected, the most interesting piece is the zuo bao yi gui, sold for $ 6.7 million including premium.
Let us also mention from the same period a wine pot sold for $ 3.1 million including premium and a cylindrical vase with an elegant flared neck sold for $ 2.16 million including premium.
Western Zhou - Gui
2010 SOLD for $ 3M including premium by Christie's
Link to catalogue.
Western Zhou - You
2013 SOLD for $ 3.1M including premium by Sotheby's
Link to catalogue.
Western Zhou - Zun
2013 SOLD for $ 2.17M including premium by Sotheby's
Link to catalogue.
Western Zhou - You
2010 SOLD for $ 2M including premium by Christie's
Link to catalogue.
The Fang Hu of the Warring States
2020 SOLD for $ 8.3M including premium
Around 400 BCE the Zhou were forced to recognize the full independence of three kingdoms around Henan. Their inexorable decline opens the Warring States period which will put up to seven major states in competition. The Qin emerge victorious in 221 BCE and found the Chinese empire.
The wording Warring States wrongly evokes anarchy. This period instead opened up China to new life styles through the development of Confucianism and Taoism. The traditional sacrificial or funeral rites persist while taking into account the observation of nature and medicine. The taotie, which expressed the mystery of the spirits, disappear from the bronze vessels.
The technological evolution of bronze becomes multidisciplinary. In very thick walls, deep grooves are filled with precious materials that bring the colors : gold, silver, copper, malachite, turquoise. Bronze handles and zoomorphic elements are added.
The baluster-shaped hu is the most common vessel at that time for the ritual use of wine. On September 23 in New York, Sotheby's sells a 35 cm high covered fang hu, lot 578 estimated $ 2.5M. Please watch the video shared by the auction house. Fang means that the bottle has a square section. It is richly decorated with gold, silver and glass.
The gold was encrusted by hammering a sheet on a pattern of protruding knobs added after casting. The glass was fitted in diamond- or half diamond- shaped plaques of nine or six beads in hollow reserves between the gold bosses. Silver volutes decorate the dark brown bronze surface inlaid with green malachite. The slightly domed cover is surmounted by four animals in the round.
The use of glass, recently introduced in China, is extremely rare. The only other example from the same period of a bronze vessel inlaid with glass is a pair of hu discovered around 1930, known from photographs of the time.
Each glass bead has the shape of an eye, in a concentric polychromy. This design, which perhaps had magical significance, was produced for a very short period of time. Examples were found in the tomb of Marquis Yi of the principality of Zeng in Hubei, dated 433 BCE.
The sale of the fang hu, which had not been seen since 1938, allows a real rediscovery by the experts of the opulence reached in the time of the Warring States by the ritual bronzes of classical form.
The wording Warring States wrongly evokes anarchy. This period instead opened up China to new life styles through the development of Confucianism and Taoism. The traditional sacrificial or funeral rites persist while taking into account the observation of nature and medicine. The taotie, which expressed the mystery of the spirits, disappear from the bronze vessels.
The technological evolution of bronze becomes multidisciplinary. In very thick walls, deep grooves are filled with precious materials that bring the colors : gold, silver, copper, malachite, turquoise. Bronze handles and zoomorphic elements are added.
The baluster-shaped hu is the most common vessel at that time for the ritual use of wine. On September 23 in New York, Sotheby's sells a 35 cm high covered fang hu, lot 578 estimated $ 2.5M. Please watch the video shared by the auction house. Fang means that the bottle has a square section. It is richly decorated with gold, silver and glass.
The gold was encrusted by hammering a sheet on a pattern of protruding knobs added after casting. The glass was fitted in diamond- or half diamond- shaped plaques of nine or six beads in hollow reserves between the gold bosses. Silver volutes decorate the dark brown bronze surface inlaid with green malachite. The slightly domed cover is surmounted by four animals in the round.
The use of glass, recently introduced in China, is extremely rare. The only other example from the same period of a bronze vessel inlaid with glass is a pair of hu discovered around 1930, known from photographs of the time.
Each glass bead has the shape of an eye, in a concentric polychromy. This design, which perhaps had magical significance, was produced for a very short period of time. Examples were found in the tomb of Marquis Yi of the principality of Zeng in Hubei, dated 433 BCE.
The sale of the fang hu, which had not been seen since 1938, allows a real rediscovery by the experts of the opulence reached in the time of the Warring States by the ritual bronzes of classical form.
