An Archaic Bronze Ritual Wine Vessel, Tilianghu eastern han dynasty (25-220) having a compressed globular body raised on a high hollow foot, surmounted by a recessed neck and a flaring mouth, the main body chiseled with bands of lozenges, between three raised concentric rings and a band of lappet leaves, the neck decorated with rows of feathers alternating panels of lozenges and leave tips, the mouth incised with a running deer figure and mounted with a chain link handle. Height 12 1/2 x width 9 1/2 inches. Estimate $80,000-120,000 Property from a Private Chicago Collection Provenance: Acquired from J.J. Lally & Co. Oriental Art, July 17th, 2008 Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Sotheby's New York, September 18, 2007, sale N08342 lot 179 Acquired by the previous owner in the early 1990s On the Japanese art market in the early 1980s Exhibited: Hong Kong Museum of Art, 2001 - 2006 Min Chiu Society exhibition, 1999 - 2000 Note: Accompanied by a technical studies report issued by Pieter Meyers, PhD, October 6, 2009 and a X-ray scan of the vessel A bronze vase of related form with very similar decoration, see Unearthing China's Past, Boston, 1973, p. 122, fig. 56 Another similar example with plain decoration, see Zhongguo qingtongqi quanji (Compendium of Chinese Bronze), vol. 12, Qin and Han Dynasties, Beijing, 1998, no. 69 Height 31.8 cm x width 24.1 cm