Lot 2 , A Chinese archaic bronze ritual wine vessel, Zun, late Shang/early Western Zhou dynasty, 35.5cm high, split to foot

A rare Chinese archaic bronze ritual wine vessel, Zun, late Shang/early Western Zhou dynasty, 12th-10th century B.C., crisply cast in high relief with pairs of kui, dragons, taotie masks and scrolls on a detailed leiwen ground, the lower bowstring band with cruciform aperture which is 'blind' on the opposing side, flanked by scrollwork flanges, bas-relief cast pictographic mark to the underside of the foot, green-grey patina with some occasional malachite green and cuprite encrustation, 35.5cm high, split to base
Estimate £50,000-80,000


Literature:
Compare two similar Zun vessels sold by Christie's, New York, 'Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Part II', 13 - 14 September 2012, Lot 1226 and Sotheby's, New York, 'Chinese Art Through the Eye of Sakamoto Goro: Early Chinese Art', 13 September 2016, lot 12.

A similar zun with the taotie mask featuring intaglio decoration, in the Arthur M. Sackler collection is illustrated in Robert W. Bagley, Shang Ritual Bronzes in the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, Cambridge, 1987, vol. 1, pl. 46; and another in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, is published in Shang Ritual Bronzes in the National Palace Museum Collection, Taipei, 1998, pl. 56.

Provenance: the estate of the late Jean-Claude Jean-Claude (1926-2016).

Jean-Claude Lepileur was a man of great learning. Born in Lisieux in France, he became a buyer and seller of antiques and formed a partnership with Mrs Senta Christian in a joint antiques venture, travelling to and from England from their early base in Deauville in Normandy. Mr Lepileur was a self-taught historian, chemist and restorer, with a particular love of all things Asian, especially pieces of art from China. And more specifically ancient Chinese bronze artefacts, which he collected avidly all his life.

Mr Lepileur and Mrs Christian moved their business to Finchley in London in the 1950s and they continued to operate as a partnership until 1996, when Mrs Christian passed away. Jean-Claude had a very discerning eye for art and at one point even managed to identify two original Rembrandt sketches for sale on a stall on Portobello Market and was able to purchase them for a few pounds. They were later fully authenticated by the Victoria and Albert Museum. Mr Lepileur was also a frequent visitor to the British Museum in those days as he was always keen to compare his latest Chinese bronze acquisitions with those in the collection of the museum. During his life he amassed a collection of some eighty bronzes and a number of ceramics, pictures and scrolls. He also collected over 60 reference books, many of them very detailed, which he used to assist him with his research. Mr Lepileur was still buying and selling up until his death in December last year, aged 90.

The collection is presented complete, with no omissions and is a great tribute to his skill in identifying, researching and collecting some wonderful pieces of Chinese art.

Typical minor casting imperfections and some small areas of surface pitting.
The base has a split extending approximately 10cm upward with some old solder around the area otherwise in good condition.


Descriptions provided in both printed and on-line catalogue formats do not include condition reports. The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections or the effects of aging. Interested bidders are strongly encouraged to request a condition report on any lots upon which they intend to bid, prior to placing a bid. All transactions are governed by Gorringes Conditions of Sale.

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