AN ARCHAIC BRONZE RITUAL WINE VESSEL, GU, SHANG DYNASTY China, late Shang dynasty, 13th-11th century BC. The trumpet-shaped neck is finely cast with four scroll-filled blades, the center section with two taotie masks divided by hooked flanges, repeated on the spreading foot with four matching quadrants bearing a rare cicada motif. The interior of the foot with an incised inscription. Provenance: Private English collection, acquired in Hong Kong 1980s-1990s, and thence by descent in the same family. Condition: The vessel has an anthracite and russet patina with extensive malachite and lapis encrustation. Some losses due to corrosion. Minor touchups. Weight: 960.7 g Dimensions: Height 26 cm Fitted box. (2) Auction result comparison: Compare with a closely related Gu sold by Christie's New York in Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art on 18-19 September 2019, lot 991, for USD $60,000. 青銅觚，商代 中國，商代晚期，公元前十三至十一世紀。呈喇叭形撇口。頸部凸起四道弦紋。主體飾饕餮紋，足部蟬紋。足内可見文字。 來源：英國私人收藏，上世紀八十年代至九十年代購於香港，自此保存在同一家族至今。 品相：黑色及赤褐色銅綠，並帶有孔雀石綠和青金石藍色結殼。因爲腐蝕所以有一些缺損。輕微粘黏物。 重量：960.7 克 尺寸：高26 厘米 拍賣結果比較：一件類似的青銅觚售于紐約佳士得2019年9月18-19日《中國陶瓷和工藝品》 拍號991，成交價USD $60,000。