A RARE ARCHAIC BRONZE RITUAL WINE VESSEL, GU Late Shang Dynasty The waisted cylindrical vessel with a wide trumpet mouth, cast in low relief around the bulging mid-section with two taotie masks containing a pair of circular bosses divided by a shallow flange on a leiwen ground, above further leiwen and two taotie on the spreading foot, the middle section set off by raised ridges, the surface of dark patina with patches of malachite encrustation. 25.5 (10in) high. Footnotes: Please note this Lot is to be sold at No Reserve. 本拍品不設底價 商晚期 青銅饕餮紋觚 Published, Illustrated and Exhibited: Roger Keverne Ltd., Summer Exhibition, London, 2005, no.4. 展覽著錄：Roger Keverne Ltd.，《夏季展覽》，倫敦，2005年，編號4 Bronze gu were among the most important vessels used in ceremonial and funerary rituals during the late Shang dynasty. Similar archaic gu vessels, Shang dynasty, are illustrated by R.W.Bagley, Shang Ritual Bronzes in the Arthur M.Sackler Collections, Cambridge MA, 1987, pp.216-227. See also Shang Ritual Bronzes in the National Palace Museum Collection, Taipei, 1998, nos.33-36. Compare with a related archaic bronze ritual wine vessel, gu, late Shang dynasty, which was sold at Sotheby's London, 9 November 2016, lot 106 For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com