SHANG DYNASTY (13TH CENTURY BC)

Comprising of two sections, the deep bell-shaped body encircled with a frieze of archaistic zoomorphs below the slightly flared mouth rim surmounted by two upright loop handles, the lower section crisply cast with three bovine taotie masks with protruding eyes and curling horns in raised relief, supported on three cylindrical feet, the interior with a grill hinged pierced with five cross-shaped apertures, the patina of a mottled brown-green and cuprite red with patches of encrustation.

H 29.5 cm