Western Zhou Dynasty Bronze He Vessel With Qugu Pattern, Animal‑Head Spout And Three Hoof Feet

拍品描述

Dimensions：Overall height 13 cm (5.1 in), maximum diameter 17 cm (6.7 in), Western Zhou Dynasty (1046‑771 BCE)Condition & Provenance：The he vessel survives as a complete set. Body, lid, two handles, animal‑head spout and three hoof‑shaped feet are fully preserved, no losses, cracks or solder repairs. Surface qugu patterns and relief carvings on the lid stay crisp and sharp without heavy wear. Thick natural malachite and dark‑brown burial patina firmly adhere to the bronze core, original red rust encrustations remain inside the cavity. Mold‑casting marks on base are untouched and unpolished. Excavated in central China, this bronze passed down through generations of Chinese private collectors. It was acquired in 2025 by a seasoned ancient‑bronze private collector in San Francisco, California, USA. Complete provenance files and professional lab appraisal documents are provided.Description：This Western Zhou bronze he with animal‑head spout and three hoof feet is an important ritual wine vessel used for mixing wine and water during ceremonial sacrifices, fully cast by traditional piece‑mold technique. It features a rounded bulbous body with flared rim, two upright curved rectangular handles, and a three‑dimensional beast‑head spout with finely sculpted facial details. Three robust hoof‑form legs support the whole vessel for stable placement. The separable circular lid carries high‑relief coiled dragon ornamentation, further accented by two miniature kneeling human figures, a rare and imaginative decorative motif. The outer wall of the body is fully decorated with continuous qugu scroll patterns. Deeply incised repetitive scrollwork represents the canonical decorative style of mid‑Western Zhou bronze art. The open interior cavity retains authentic multi‑layer burial rust deposits. Visible mold seams on the bottom offer direct evidence of ancient Chinese bronze casting technology. The whole piece carries heavy aged patina with naturally blended dark base and malachite green encrustations, free of modern artificial treatment. Complete lidded bronze he vessels with animal spout from Western Zhou are uncommon, and examples with sculpted human figures on lid are especially scarce. Its sophisticated shape and dense ornamentation demonstrate outstanding casting skill and distinct aesthetic taste of the Western Zhou era. This museum‑grade ancient bronze holds tremendous historical‑documentary and artistic value, highly sought‑after among ancient bronze collectors across North America’s West Coast, well‑suited for private museum‑level collection and academic research.

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