Lot 66 , A Chinese archaic bronze ritual water basin, Pan, early Eastern Zhou dynasty, 8th-7th century B.C., 15cm high, 40.5cm, old repairs

A Chinese archaic bronze ritual water basin, Pan, early Eastern Zhou dynasty, 8th-7th century B.C., the exterior cast in high relief with a band of interlocking kui dragons, applied with a pair of high looped handles, the interior with bas-relief cast twin fish and three character inscription, dark brown patina with malachite green encrustation, 15cm high, 40.5cm wide at handles, old repairs
Estimate £2,500-3,500


Literature:
Pan were shallow basins used as ritual vessels to hold water. They were used in conjunction with a he or a yi to form a set of vessels for the washing of hands. Such vessels would have been included in the ritual vessel sets used to perform ritual food and wine offerings to the ancestors.

The crisply cast high relief bands of coiled interlocking dragons are very similar to those seen on a ritual bronze Hu vessel sold by Sotheby's, New York, 'Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art', 11-12 September 2012, Lot 168 and on a fou, in the Sackler collection, illustrated by Jenny So, Eastern Zhou Ritual Bronzes from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, vol. III, Washington, D.C., 1995, p. 206, no. 31.
Other bronze ritual vessels with similar band decoration can also be found on a ding, attributed to the early Spring and Autumn period, in the Yantai City Museum, Shandong province, illustrated in Zhongguo qingtongqi quanji, vol. 9, Beijing, 1997, pl. 2, and on another lei, in the Hebei Provincial Museum, included ibid., pl. 128.

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.



Old metal repairs to the dish base at the 1 o'clock to 3 o'clock positions. The right handle has been re-attached at the join to the body. Old metal repairs to the foot at the 2 o'clock to 5 o'clock positions with some loss of definition of the cast lower band in this area. There is an open split to the foot at the 5 o' clock position, otherwise in reasonable 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.

Sold for £2,200