ANCIENT CHINESE BRONZE RITUAL WINE VESSEL (JUE)

Late Shang Dynasty, Ca. 11th Century BC An ancient Chinese Jue used to ceremoniously heat and pour wine. This vessel has an ovoid body with three splayed, pointed legs and a guttered spout. The exterior features a finely modelled taotie mask with bulging eyes. Ritual wine vessels of this shape are some of the earliest surviving bronze forms from ancient China.
Size: L:185mm / W:175mm; 865g
Provenance: Private collection of a London doctor; formerly in a Somerset Estate collection; acquired from Hong Kong galleries in the early 1990s. This item has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database and comes with a confirmation letter.

Estimate: GBP 3000 - 6000