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Antique Chinese Bronze Vessel
Ritual Zun 尊
Ceremonial Zoomorphic Beast 儀式獸形
Origin: China, Circa: 19th century and earlier
H 9 in. (23cm), W 11.5 in. (29cm), D 6 in. (15cm)
Cuprite and malachite patina; Excellent condition
This heavy cast archaic bronze ritual wine vessel (Guang), stylistically dating from the Western Zhou Dynasty (c. 12th–10th Century BCE) to the Warring States period ( c. 475 – 221 BCE). It stands as a masterwork of ancient Chinese zoomorphic sculpture. Cast with remarkable complexity, the vessel features a powerful bird-form spout, with a prominent hooked beak and circular eyes. The dinosaur-like vessel stands on four legs, with scrolling feathered wings on two sides. The design is a "composite beast" typical of the period, transitioning seamlessly into a magnificent loop handle capped by a clambering feline figure that arches with predatory grace. Based on the rim, this vessel originally would have had a chain-linked removable lid. The entire exterior is enhanced by a vibrant, multitone malachite patina that attests to its millennia of interment. This Zun served as a spiritual conduit in ancestral rituals, its intricate scrolling reliefs and powerful silhouette embodying the prestige and religious authority of the early Chinese aristocracy. Close observation reveals that the vessel was cast using the lost-wax method, likely dating to the 19th century or earlier.
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