Beschreibung:

Lot details China, ca. 1050 BC. Of elongated pear shape with a waisted neck and flared rim, cast below the neck with a single border of leiwen in deep relief, the splayed hollow foot encircled by two bow-string bands. The bronze skin with a magnificent, naturally grown patina showing a multitude of deep-green malachite and cuprite encrustations. Provenance: Christie’s South Kensington, London, 28 July 1994. Catherine Farrell, London, acquired from the above. A copy of the provenance statement, written and signed by Catherine Farrell, dated 8 July 2022, attesting to her purchase of the present lot at Christie’s South Kensington on 28 July 1994 as well as it being authenticated by Dr. Jessica Rawson in 1990, whose appraisal mentioned in the letter confirms the dating above, accompanies this lot. Dame Jessica Mary Rawson (b. 1943) is an English art historian, curator, and sinologist. She is also an academic administrator, specializing in Chinese art. Between 1976 and 1994, she served as Deputy Keeper and then Keeper of the Department of Oriental Antiquities at the British Museum in London and from 2006 to 2011 as pro-vice-chancellor of Oxford University. She has been involved in a number of high-profile exhibitions such as the Mysteries of Ancient China. Condition: Superb condition, commensurate with age, and absolutely original with no repairs or touchups whatsoever. Old wear, signs of weathering and erosion, minor nicks here and there. Solid, naturally grown patina with extensive malachite and cuprite encrustation. X-Ray: Images 18-22 confirm the excellent original condition of this lot. Weight: 317.8 g Dimensions: Height 13.4 cm Zhi goblets such as the present example served as drinking vessels. They were employed in important ritual performances aimed at paying homage to the ancestors. According to Chinese beliefs, the ancestors were deemed active participants in the life of their offspring, which they could positively influence if provided with the correct necessities for their own afterlife, see Jessica Rawson, 'The Power of Images: The Model Universe of the First Emperor and its Legacy', in Historical Research, no.75, 2002, pp. 123-154. Expert’s note: The Qianlong emperor’s great love of jade combined with his passion for antiques resulted in his commissioning significant numbers of archaistic jade items for his court. The form of the present zhi vessel has served as the inspiration for a number of jade zhi now in private and public collections, including no. 40 in this catalog (please see the lot entry for further examples). This clearly shows that bronze zhi such as the present lot were already highly valued 300 years ago. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related zhi, of similar form and also with a leiwen band below the neck and two bow-string bands around the foot, dated to the early Western Zhou period, mid-11th to early 10th century BC, in the collection of the Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Harvard Art Museums, object number 1981.106. Compare a related zhi, also decorated with leiwen and bow-string bands, dated Shang dynasty to Western Zhou period, in the collection of the Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Harvard Art Museums, object number 1956.87. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 18 March 2014, lot 10 Price: USD 30,000 or approx. EUR 33,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: The Fu Xin Zhi, a bronze ritual wine vessel, late Shang dynasty, 13th-11th century BC Expert remark: Compare the related form and manner of casting with similar leiwen and bow-string bands, additionally with taotie mask and flanges. Note the larger size (15.2 cm) and that the zhi has a three-character inscription. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s New York, 14 September 2018, lot 1103 Price: USD 37,500 or approx. EUR 40,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A rare small bronze ritual wine vessel, zhi, late Sha