Lot 2A
Chinese Warring States Bronze Dou - Lidded Food Vessel
Chinese Warring States Bronze Dou - Lidded Food Vessel
Starting Bid: $5,000
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East Asia, China, Warring States period, ca. 475 to 221 BCE. A finely cast bronze lidded and footed vessel, known as a dou, with an elegant domed cover, shallow bowl, and tall flaring foot. The form is completed with a pair of ring handles set to either side of the body, allowing the vessel to be easily lifted and carried. Both lid and body are adorned with tightly composed bands of S-scrolls rendered in low relief, a hallmark of Warring States bronze artistry. The surface now bears a mottled green patina with traces of burial accretions, lending a vivid testament to its age. The dou served as a food container, its two-part construction suited for holding offerings of grain or prepared dishes during banquets, ritual feasts, or funerary ceremonies. In elite contexts, such vessels not only functioned as practical tableware but also embodied wealth, refinement, and a connection to ancestral rites. Size: 6.3" L x 7.7" W x 8.5" H (16 cm x 19.6 cm x 21.6 cm)
Their symmetrical profiles and intricate surface designs reflect the sophisticated metallurgical and aesthetic advancements of the Warring States period, when regional workshops across China competed in both technical mastery and decorative innovation. This example, with its harmonious proportions and crisply patterned ornament, embodies the prestige of bronze ritual vessels in late Zhou society. It would have been a prized possession, linking its owner to both earthly abundance and the solemnity of ancestral tradition.
This vessel has been extensively tested using XRF analysis. The composition is consistent with vessels from this region and time period. An XRF analysis will accompnay this piece.
A similar bronze dou hammered $104,500 (now equivalent to $154,544.36) at Christie's New York on September 16, 2010 (Live Auction 2508 "The Sze Yuan Tang Archaic Bronzes from the Anthony Hardy Collection," lot 881).
Provenance: Ex Siegel Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico before 2005
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#196705
- Condition: Heavy weathering and deep patina on surface with some small perforations with areas of loss to foot. Otherwise, very nice presentation with rich green patina and earthen deposits throughout. Liberal remains of incised decoration.
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| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $19,999 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $49,999 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $20,000 |