Antikes Asien, Terracotta Inschriftstragende Dreibein-Vase LI, im Zusammenhang mit TL-Test und Lizenzexport für die - 23 cm

This epigraphed ceramic vessel has a characteristic tripod shape, with a tall, slender body that widens toward the top to form a wide mouth with a slightly flared rim. It is modelled in dark-toned ceramic, with a partially smoothed surface and remains of pictorial or incised decoration on the upper part of the body. The three conical legs are clearly differentiated from the body, giving the vessel stability and visual lightness. The state of preservation is remarkably good, despite evident surface wear, which suggests the object's age.

Based on its formal and technical characteristics, this vessel can be identified as a tripod vessel from Bronze Age Chinese culture, specifically belonging to the Shang period (approximately 1600–1046 BC) or the early Western Zhou period (1046–771 BC). This chronology is suggested by the shape of the vessel, which is reminiscent of the gu, a ceremonial vessel commonly used for libations in religious and funerary rituals.

The gu was a type of ritual vessel used for wine, widely documented in elite Shang Dynasty tombs, made both in bronze and, in earlier or parallel versions, in ceramic. The presence of possible decorative motifs, now faded, suggests an ornamental treatment that could include geometric shapes or stylised taotie (zoomorphic masks), typical elements of the ritual visual language of this period. The term "epigraphed" could refer to ritual or symbolic inscriptions, although these now seem almost lost or difficult to distinguish without more technical examination.

Tripod pottery manufacture is an ancient tradition in East Asia, and had a significant presence in Late Neolithic cultures such as the Longshan culture (ca. 3000–1900 BC)—where similar forms also developed—but was perfected during the heyday of ritual bronze in Shang China. In the case of this vessel, its formal sophistication and stylisation distance it from purely utilitarian forms and link it more directly to elite ritual practices.

The closest parallels are found in pieces held at the Shanghai Museum, the National Museum of China in Beijing, as well as in international collections such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the British Museum, where bronze and ceramic gu vessels from this period are on display. Similar vessels have also been found at archaeological sites such as Anyang, the late Shang capital, where both bronze and ceramic vessels have been documented used for similar functions in funerary contexts.

In short, this vessel represents a valuable testimony to the sophisticated ritual practices of the ancient Asian world, particularly in the context of Bronze Age China. Its functional and aesthetic design reflects a worldview in which vessels were not simple containers, but essential vehicles for communication with ancestors and the gods.

Acquired from a Spanish private collection, M.J.S in the 70's.
-The piece includes an authenticity certificate as well as license export for European Union and T.L test..

IMPORTANT: Due to the new laws on the export of archaeological pieces, we have decided to NO LONGER sell outside the European territory for the following countries: SWITZERLAND & UNITED STATES of AMERICA.
For other destinations out of European territory: all our items will be shipped after obtaining a definitive LICENSE EXPORTATION by the Ministry of Culture of Spain. We inform our clients that it may take between 4-8 weeks. According to Spanish legislation, items sent outside the European Union are subjected to export taxes. The taxes will be added to the invoice, at the buyer's expense. These export fees are fixed on the final auction price, and the tax rate is not applied directly to the total value of the item to be exported, but rather the different percentages by sections are applied to it:
Up to 6,000 euros: 5%. / From 6.001 to 60.000 euros: 10 %.


#Orientalism