Description Large animal-shaped handle, probably from a particularly large archaic ritual libation vessel Hu
Cast bronze, large parts of malachite patina and some earth encrustation,
Length appx. 330 mm, height appx. 85 mm, depth appx. 45 mm
Eastern Chou period, probably spring and autumn period 722-481 BC
Provenance: Sotheby’s London 1993, thereafter Gallery Asboth, private collection Austria
The elongated, stylized animal with relatively short and stocky legs with spiral-shaped curls and pointed claw ends turns its head, which sits on a long neck, backwards, the elongated tail is rolled up at the end. The small, pointed ears resemble horns, the spherical eyes seem to be set on. The clay core of the cast has been largely preserved.
Similar zoomorphic handles on large bronze hoods are known from the spring and autumn period, two practically identical specimens from the National Palace Museum in Taipei were on display there in 1989: Bronze Wine Vessels of Shang and Chou Dynasties, Catalogue pp. 69-70.
RefEgy5320 RefChi5320