A Chinese bronze ritual wine vessel and cover, bian hu, the flattened oval body is raised on a spreading rectangular foot, and the curve of the sides is accentuated by shallow, recessed panels that flank the pair of loops applied to the narrow sides, the slightly domed cover has a deep inner rim and a loop in the centre, mottled pale olive-brown and milky green encrustation, approximately 28.5cm high x 32cm wide, wood standProvenance: Private collection and by direct inheritance to the present owner.Bronze wine vessels of this flattened, oval shape, known as bian hu (meaning 'flattened jar') in Chinese, are found from as early as the Spring and Autumn period (770 - 476 BC), remaining popular until the Han dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD). A Warring States period bronze bian hu, unearthed in 1977 from the tomb of King Cuo of the Zhongshan State, contained an alcoholic drink, further proving the function of this type of vessel at that time.青铜扁壶拍品来源：英国私人收藏，现藏家祖母于其母亲处继承