Scientific Analysis Report: A thermoluminescence analysis report issued by Oxford Authentication 8 June 2015, based on sample number C115e88, sets the firing date of two samples taken between 2300 and 3600 years ago, consistent with the dating above. A copy of the report, signed by Doreen Stoneham for Oxford Authentication, accompanies this lot.

China, 11^th century BC. The body is crisply cast in high relief on each side with a pair of coiled dragons with protruding fangs confronted on a notched flange and reserved on a leiwen ground. The vessel is flanked by a pair of loop handles surmounted by animal masks and with a tab cast with a claw and tail feather of a bird projecting from the bottom. The pedestal foot is cast on each side with two dragons confronted on a narrow flange.

Provenance: From an English private collection, by repute acquired in Germany during the 1970s or ‘80s.
Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age. Extensive wear, signs of weathering and erosion, encrustations, casting flaws, two cracks, minor losses. Completely original, no restoration of any kind. Drilled holes from sample-taking. The bronze is entirely covered by a naturally grown patina with distinct malachite and cuprite encrustations.

Weight: 2,083 g
Dimensions: Length 26 cm (across handles)

The interior of the vessel with an old inscription mostly written in seal script of the type used around 100 AD. This inscription probably dates either from the Han dynasty, before the vessel was buried, or from the Ming or Qing dynasties, after it was excavated. The inscription may be translated as ‘ancient ritual vessel made for use by the family of a revered deceased individual’ and consists of the characters:

1. 又 (You): Pictograph of a hand. To make.
2. 乍 (Zha): Pictograph of a blade for cutting trees. First.
3. 古 (Gu): Pictograph of a shield. Old or ancient.
4. 鼎 (Ding): Pictograph of an ancient cooking pot with two handles and three or four legs. Also refers to an individual's grand reputation.
5. 隹 (Zhui): Pictograph of a bird.
6. 用 (Yong): Depicts a bucket with a handle on the right side. To use; to employ; to eat or drink.
7. 家 (Jia): Pictograph of a pig under a roof. House, home, residence; family; home; clan.
8. 乃 (Nai): Origin unclear. Various explanations include: (1) a person standing sideways with protruding breasts, or (2) a rope being thrown. To be.
9. 寶 (Bao): Depicts an assortment of valuable things, such as jade (玉), being stored safely under a roof (宀). Treasure.
10. 广 + 尸 (Guang Shi) - "House on a cliff" and depiction of a deceased person. Respected individual, ceremonial burial.
11. 以 (Yi): Depicts a person (人) carrying something. For use.
12. 于 (Yu): Pictograph of a musical wind instrument with a reed. Surname, to go or take, emphasis.

Large profile dragons with coiled bodies are identified with Western Zhou bronze-casting. They appear, for example, on the Da Feng gui in the Historical Museum, Beijing, a vessel whose inscription refers to Wen Wang, father of the conqueror Wu Wang. Such dragons embellish other vessels, especially gui, with inscriptions that can be dated to the early Western Zhou period. The motif also appears on bronzes excavated in western China, in Shaanxi and Sichuan provinces, including lei with extravagant flanges. Coiled dragons seem to have been invented at the very beginning of the Western Zhou period, or just before the conquest, taking advantage of a Shang design. The large, coiled body is based upon a dragon such as that shown in the present lot. To create a profile version of the creature the head seems to have been cut off the body and a new profile head attached. See Jessica Rawson, Chinese Bronzes: Art and Ritual, British Museum, 1987, cat. no. 23.

Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related bronze gui with similar decorations, 26 cm wide, dated to the Western Zhou dynasty, in the British Museum registration number 1984,0531.1, illustrated in Jessica Rawson, Chinese Bronzes: Art and Ritual, British Museum, 1987, cat. no. 23. Compare a closely related bronze gui, dated to the Western Zhou dynasty, in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, image number C1A001945N000000000PAD.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Near identical
Auction: Christie’s New York, 14 September 2018, lot 1111
Price: USD 200,000 or approx. EUR 228,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A finely cast bronze ritual food vessel, gui, Early Western Zhou dynasty, 11^th century BC
Expert remark: Compare the near identical form and decoration, as well as the similar patina. Note the related size (27 cm).