Late Zhou Dynasty, Circa 700 - 600 BC The rounded sides are cast in flat relief with two bands of ‘U- shaped motifs below a collar of ‘D-shaped motifs under a flat flanged rim interrupted by a short spout in the form of a cat head. It is flanked by a pair of upright loop handles and raised on three short, sturdy legs. The black-inlaid backgrounds highlight the decoration. The surface is encrusted with cooper oxide black, cuprite red and malachite green patination. Due to cleaning, at some places, the blank metal can be observed. For similar see Shanxi Institute of Archaeology; Illustrated in Shanxu wenwu guancang zhenpin: qingtong qi: (Selected Cultural Relics from Local Museums in Shanxi: Bronzes), Taiyuan, P.. 53, No 81, with description on p.129. This piece has undergone X-Ray Fluorescence analysis by an independent Belgian Laboratory. The samples collected show the chemical composition to reflect the typical metal contents of the described period, whilst also showing no modern trace elements in the patina. Size: L:170mm / W:185mm ; 1.6kg. Provenance: UK private collection; formerly acquired in the early 1990s in Hong Kong.