Mid Western Zhou Dynasty Expertly cast of oval section, the slightly compressed pear-shaped body supported on a splayed foot, encircled by a band of pairs of crested birds confronted by taotie masks all on a leiwen ground, the band interrupted on each side by a loop supporting the U-shaped bail handle with bovine-mask terminals cast with further bird motifs and lozenge-shaped bosses, the fitted and domed cover with a matching bird frieze, surmounted by a hollow oval knop, a smooth gray-green patina with malachite encrustation, the interior of the vessel and cover with an inscription reading 'Pi shu xian yi, ji bu yi, wei mu zong yi ze bei, yong qian mu ling'. 25cm (9 2/4in) high. (2).