An extremely rare and important Chinese archaic bronze ritual wine vessel and cover, 'You' 卣, Shang dynasty, Yinxu period

H.: 29 cm - L.: 22,5 cm

Weight: 3,6 kg

Provenance:
- A French private collection.
- Excavated during the Song dynasty, according to the characteristics and dating of the lid.

Condition: (UV-checked)
- Generally in very good condition, with some normal wear and nice patination.
- Lacking the handle and one handle loop with a small break.
- A superficial dent to the lower part of the vessel.

品相：（已用紫外线光检查）
- 整体品相非常良好，正常磨损痕迹，包浆自然浑厚。
- 缺失手柄，一个手柄的环缺失一小部分。
- 器身下侧一个轻微凹陷。

Ref.:
- The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, USA, object number 57.45.6a-b, for another vessel of this type and period. (link)
- The Nara National Museum, Japan, accession number 1317-67, for another vessel of this type and period. (link)
- Sotheby's, April 8, 2023, lot 3610, for another similar vessel. (sold HKD 14.365.000) (link)

References used in the accompanying descriptive images:
- [2] Sotheby's, Hong Kong, Oct. 7, 2014, The collection of Ulrich Hausmann, lot 3314, for a comparison of the design of the eyes in taotie masks during the Song dynasty. (link)
- [3] Sotheby's, Hong Kong, Oct. 7, 2014, The collection of Ulrich Hausmann, lot 3398, for an example illustrating the absence of overlapping designs. (link)
- [4] Sotheby's, New York, March 22, 2022, The Dr Wou Kiuan Collection, lot 1, for an example of an archaic bronze excavated in the Song dynasty. (link)