A RARE PAIR OF ARCHAIC BRONZE RITUAL WINE VESSELS, HU
Warring States PeriodEach vessel of pear-shaped body cast with three horizontal bands of interlocking and confronted dragons, divided by narrower bands decorated with stylised cicada and geometric designs, above a band of twisted-rope designs at the mouth, the neck set with two taotie masks suspending ring handles, the surface with a greyish-green patina with some areas of encrustation. 36cm (14 3/8in) high. (2).
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戰國 青銅蟠螭紋壺一對Provenance: Vanderven & Vanderven, LE 's-Hertogenbosch, n.180 (label)An important European private collection來源:荷蘭斯海爾托亨博斯古董商,Vanderven & Vanderven,n.180(標籤)歐洲重要私人收藏The present pair of hu vessels is a remarkable example of the creativity associated with Bronze Age design evolution, first developing in the Western Zhou period, after which ritual bronzes continued to become increasingly elaborate throughout the Eastern Zhou period.Bronze vessels hu served as wine containers during the performance of sacrificial ceremonies aimed at worshipping the ancestors. These elaborate vessels were reserved for the highest-ranking members of society and were thus powerful indicators of the power and wealth of their owner. Although hu vessels may have been in use since the Shang dynasty, they became popular during the Zhou dynasty, with many variants being produced at this time. The present vessel exhibits a dense sculptural decoration that is the direct result of the use of 'master decor stamps', also known as 'pattern blocks', which facilitated the mould-making process and brought about specialisation and mass production to meet the rapid commercialisation of the bronze industry. Hu vessels of similar shape to the present example, typically set on a low foot patterned to resemble a twisted rope, have been mainly excavated in Henan Province, in North China. See for example, a hu vessel, late 6th/5th century BC, excavated from an Eastern Zhou burial in Huixiang Zhaogu, Henan Province, illustrated by J.So, Eastern Zhou Ritual Bronzes from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, vol.3, Washington DC, 1995, pp.248, fig.42.1.Compare with a similar bronze vessel hu, 5th century BC, in the Metropolitan Museum, New York, illustrated by D.Leidy, How to Read Chinese Ceramics, New York, 2015, p.22, fig.2.1. See also a similar bronze hu, Eastern Zhou dynasty, in the British Museum, London, no.1960.0724.1.A similar bronze ritual wine vessel, hu, late Warring States period, was sold at Christie's New York, 15 September 2011, lot 1129.壺侈口束頸,球形腹,圈足。肩部一對鋪首銜環耳。頸飾绹索紋一匝,腹部凸起四道變形蟬紋為界,其間飾三週蟠螭紋,繁密交纏。圈足各飾一周變形蟬紋。春秋及戰國時期,青銅器鑄造工藝大幅發展,紋飾風格也有別於商代的神秘奇詭和西周的質實典重,而愈加繁複綺麗。本例主體密集往復的浮雕裝飾,應使用模印法,即以印模在尚未全乾的陶胎上連續印製鑄成,是戰國時期青銅紋飾的典型例證。形似本例的青銅壺多見於中國北方如河南等省份,如河南輝縣趙固出土一件公元前六至五世紀青銅壺,收錄於蘇芳淑著,《Eastern Zhou Ritual Bronzes in the Arthur M. Sackler Collections》,卷三,華盛頓,1995年,頁248,圖版42.1。另可參考紐約大都會藝術博物館藏一件公元前五世紀青銅壺,與本例相似,見D.Leidy著,《How to Read Chinese Ceramics》,紐約,2015年,頁22,圖版2.1;以及倫敦大英博物館藏一件東周青銅壺,藏品編號1960.0724.1。一件戰國晚期青銅蟠虺紋壺,售於紐約佳士得,2011年9月15日,形制相仿,可資參考。
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