A PAIR OF ARCHAIC BRONZE RITUAL VESSELS AND COVERS, DOU
China, Eastern Zhou Dynasty, 6th – 5th century BC. The deep rounded body supported by a stem and flared foot, flanked by two loop handles on the sides and a band of decoration along the waist, filled with small interlocked quills.

Provenance: From a New York lady collector of long standing, who purchased the present lot during the 1980s in the local market. From there to a retired New York dealer, in exchange of two Song dynasty pottery dishes. From there to Nicholas Pitcher, London.
Condition: Excellent condition with few minimal losses to inner lips and looped handles. The bronze with a dark patina and patches of malachite encrustation.

Weight: 800 grams in total
Dimensions: Length 18.5 cm each

The band on the lower section is repeated twice on the domed cover, the central flaring knob is cast on top. Note the fine relief in which the bands are executed. Similar excavated examples suggest that these vessels would have been produced and used in pairs and were also reproduced in earthenware and lacquer, after a shallow tazza form without lid. Lidded dou vessels, such as the present examples, are believed to have been introduced into the repertoire of ritual Chinese bronzes in the early Eastern Zhou period.

Auction result comparison: Compare with a single dou from the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Harman Booth, Grosse Pointe, Michigan, sold at Sotheby’s New York on March 18th, 2017, in Asian art, lot 1142.

一對雙耳青銅幾何紋豆
中國，東周，公元前六至五世紀。器型圓形，圈足外撇，環形雙耳，帶狀裝飾，豆蓋和豆連接處有内 扣裝置。

來源：紐約一位女收藏傢，1980年代她在當地購得這對青銅豆。之後和一位紐約退休了的商人換了兩 隻宋代瓷盤。之後到了倫敦Nicholas Pitcher收藏。
品相：品相極好，内邊沿和雙耳上輕微磕損。青銅上有黑色包漿及銅綠。

重量：縂 800 克
尺寸：每件各長 18.5 厘米