Expert's note: This vessel comes in a 100% untreated, original, as-excavated condition unlike most of the large Shang and Zhou Dynasty bronzes in circulation, which typically have undergone substantial restoration and patina treatment/enhancement. The X-Ray (images 3 and 4) reveals that the meticulously incised design is in a magnificent state of preservation just below the patina. The X-Ray (images 20, 21, 22 and 23) further reveals that there is no repair work whatsoever, and that deep surface corrosion is minimal. Overall, it must be said that such a large vessel, which such fine designs, and in such a good condition must be regarded as very rare. (more x-ray images available upon request)

China, 10th-9th century BC. The sides flat-cast with four rows of large fish scale patterns with combed borders, below two pairs of long-tailed birds confronted on a leiwen band between a pair of lug handles flanking the base of the neck, the whole raised on a spreading pedestal foot pierced on two sides with a circular aperture. The bronze is covered overall in a magnificent, naturally grown patina with extensive malachite, cuprite, and azurite encrustation.

Provenance: A Far Eastern collector in Queens, New York, USA. Originally, one of a pair. The other sold from his collection at Christie’s New York, 26 March 2003, lot 155, and is now in the Compton Verney Art Gallery, Warwickshire, United Kingdom, reference number CVCSC 0303.A. Michael B. Weisbrod, acquired from the above. Michael B. Weisbrod is a noted scholar of Chinese art, who has published extensively on the subject over a time span of more than 50 years. In 1972, Michael joined his father Dr. Gerald Weisbrod’s Asian art gallery in Toronto, Canada. The father-and-son team opened their New York location on Madison Avenue in 1977, and during the next 45 years the gallery held a significant number of exhibitions, selling to museums and private collectors across the globe, eventually adding further locations in Shanghai and Hong Kong.
Condition: Excellent condition, commensurate with age. Extensive wear, minor losses and small nicks, light scratches, encrustations. Natural patina overall with extensive malachite, cuprite, and azurite encrustations. The patina further with scattered cloth imprints from ancient linen into which the vessel was shrouded before being buried, now long gone. X-ray images proving the excellent condition are available upon request.

Weight: 5,480 g
Dimensions: Height 40.5 cm

Literature comparison:
Compare the counterpart to this jar, once in the same collection as the present lot, at Christie’s New York, 26 March 2003, lot 155, and now in the Compton Verney Art Gallery, Warwickshire, United Kingdom, reference number CVCSC 0303.A. Compare also a similar bronze hu, with cover, found in Baijia, Fufeng, Shaanxi province, 1975, and now in the Fufeng County Museum, illustrated in Zhonguo meishu quanji, gongyi meishu, bian 4, qingtongqi (1), (The Great Treasury of Chinese Fine Arts, Arts and Crafts, volume 4, Bronzes (1)), Beijing, 1987, page 192, no. 213, where the pattern on the body is described as fish scales. It is possible, however, that this may be feathers, which would relate to the birds on the neck. Either way, the patterns on the present vessel and the published example are identical. Compare also a related hu, of more slender form with a band of confronted birds on the neck between the lug handles, and rows of overlapping feathers or fish scale patterns of smaller size covering the body, in the collection of the Shanghai Museum, included in the exhibition, Ancient Chinese Bronzes, Hong Kong Museum of Art, 1 February-3 April 1983, no. 28. Like the present hu, this example is dated to the middle Western Zhou period.



西周中期罕見青銅壺
中國，公元前十至九世紀。兩側平鑄，浮雕四排魚紋，下面兩對長尾鳥紋，雷紋帶，頸部兩側分別有一貫耳。圈足外撇，有一個孔。青銅壺整體美麗的綠色皮殼，并有綠色、藍紅色鏽斑。

來源：紐約皇后區遠東收藏家，原本是一對。另一個於2003年3月26日紐約佳士得售出，Lot 155，目前在英國沃克郡 Compton Verney 美術館，編號CVCSC 0303.A；Michael B. Weisbrod購於上述藏家處。Michael B. Weisbrod是一位著名的中國藝術學者，他在 50 多年的時間裡就該主題發表了大量著作。1972 年，Michael加入了他父親 Gerald Weisbrod 博士在加拿大多倫多的亞洲藝術藝廊。這對父子團隊於 1977 年在麥迪遜大道開設了他們的紐約分館，在接下來的 45 年裡，藝廊舉辦了大量展覽，向全球的博物館和私人收藏家出售作品，最終還在上海和香港開辦分店。
品相：狀況極佳，與年齡相稱。大面積磨損、輕微損失和小劃痕、結殼。整體天然皮殼，帶有大量綠色、紅色以及藍色鏽斑。可根據要求提供證明狀況良好的 X 射線圖像。

重量：5,480 克
尺寸：高40.5 厘米

文獻比較：
比較一件來自同樣收藏的青銅壺，見紐約佳士得，2003年3月26日，lot 155，現藏英國瓦立克郡Compton Verney Art Gallery，編號CVCSC 0303.A。比較一件類似的帶蓋青銅壺，1975年出土於陝西扶風白家，現藏於扶風縣博物館，圖見《中國美術全集》，卷四，〈青銅器1〉(The Great Treasury of Chinese Fine Arts，Arts and Crafts，volume 4，Bronzes (1))，北京，1987年，頁192，編號213；此青銅器器身的花紋被描述為魚鱗。不過，這有可能是羽毛，這與青銅器頸部上的鳥紋有關。不管怎麼說，現拍品的圖案和已發表的例子是一樣的。比較一件相近的西周中期青銅壺，它的形狀更細長，頸部有一圈對峙的鳥紋，身體上有一排重疊的羽毛或小尺寸的魚鱗紋，收藏於上海博物館，曾展覽於1983年2月1日至4月3日香港藝術館，《中國古代青銅器》，編號28。