Bronze Ox-Headed Ritual Wine Gong, Shang-Zhou Dynasty 11th-10th Century BCE

拍品描述

Dimensions: 35 cm (13.78 inches) long, 27.5 cm (10.83 inches) high, weighing 4.1 kg. Period: Shang and Zhou Dynasties (11th-10th century BC). Condition and Provenance: This wine gong is in excellent condition, with its original lid and body intact, showing no signs of damage, cracks, welding, or later repairs. The entire bronze surface is covered with a layer of natural verdigris, a deep and firmly adhered to the metal core, composed of malachite green and reddish-brown rust. The sculpted bull's head is complete, with its horns, nostrils, and spout well preserved; the double dragon side handles are clearly visible in three-dimensional carving. The taotie beast face relief on the gong body is clearly defined, with sharp vertical edges. The square base retains its original shape, without collapse or severe wear. This artifact was unearthed from the Shangzhou site in central China, passed through the hands of European bronze dealers, and was eventually acquired by a private collector in California. California was a major global trading center for ancient Chinese bronze ritual vessels. Description: This Shangzhou bronze ox-head wine gong was a high-grade ritual vessel used by ancient nobles for sacrifices and banquets. The vessel consists of three parts: a sculpted ox-head wine-pouring lid, a square body, and a square base. The front features a three-dimensional cast ox head with curved horns and a protruding spout for pouring wine. The lid is decorated with layered relief carvings of kui dragons, their lines flowing and meandering. Symmetrical vertical flanges adorn both sides of the vessel, while the walls are decorated with balanced taotie beast patterns, a signature decorative motif of Shangzhou bronze ritual vessels. One side features a large circular handle cast as two intertwined dragons, with exquisitely detailed dragon heads and tails. This vessel was cast using traditional single-mold casting techniques, resulting in a robust and imposing form with balanced proportions, and is made of pure bronze alloy. Centuries of burial underground have created a thick layer of natural patina, perfectly preserving its original state upon excavation. Bronze gongs in the shape of human figures from the Shang and Zhou dynasties are extremely rare in the art market, and those that are well-preserved, with their original lids and complete animal head carvings, are among the most coveted treasures of ancient Chinese art. This gong has extremely high archaeological value, serving as a valuable resource for studying early Chinese ritual systems. It is an important technical document of ancient bronze casting techniques and possesses museum-quality aesthetic value. It is undoubtedly a top-tier piece among pre-Qin bronze ritual vessels in any private American collection and would be ideally suited for permanent display in a large ancient bronzes exhibition hall.

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