A RITUAL BRONZE GRAIN SERVING VESSEL AND COVER, DOU
China, Eastern Zhou dynasty, 5th-3rd century BC.

The large stem cup laying on a circular base, towards the edge two ring-shaped handles, one in a symmetrical position respect to the other, the domed cover surmounted by a large circular handle, a fine decoration with minute geometric motifs arranged in parallel horizontal bands on the upper part of the body, on the lid and around the cylindrical stem.

22,5 cm high

Provenance : Fabrizio Savi collection, acquired from a private collector in Bruxelles between 1995 and 2000.
The lid, turned upside down, could be used to hold the food stored in the lower container. The fine decoration, placed on parallel rows, was made using ceramic molds, a process that allowed the reduction of production times.
A container similar to this in shape, size and style of decoration, is in the Los Angeles County Museum (inv. AC1998.251.19a-b); see also the similar dou in the Idemitsu Museum of Tokyo (Idemitsu Museum of Arts. The 15th Anniversary Catalogue, Tokyo 1981, p. 249, n. 1078).