A BRONZE TRIPOD STEAMER, YAN, WESTERN ZHOU DYNASTY China, 1100-771 BC. Comprised of two parts, the lower vessel supported on three massive and tall feet, the shoulder encircled by a raised bowstring, all surmounted by a short, straight neck designed to fit neatly into the conforming foot of the bowl-shaped upper vessel, which rises elegantly to an everted rim. The exterior decorated with three distinct bands of stylized serpents, separated by bowstring bands, flanked by two short knob handles, the well with three bands of radiating apertures to allow steam to rise. (2)

Provenance: From a private collection in Vancouver, Canada, sold to benefit the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. European trade, acquired from the above. The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, first opened in 1951 and houses almost 20,000 works of art. With approximately 8,000 Asian works, the museum holds the second largest collection of Asian art in Canada, after the Royal Ontario Museum. While the collection of Asian works includes items from all over the continent (including Southeast and Western Asia), the focus is primarily on works from China and Japan.
Condition: Fine overall condition, commensurate with age, possibly small losses with associated old fills. Extensive wear, signs of weathering and erosion, small nicks and cracks. Fine, naturally grown patina with extensive malachite and cuprite encrustation. Displaying remarkably well overall.

Weight: 2130 g
Dimensions: Height 31.2 cm

Expert's remark: Note the intricate design of the three bands below the rim with interlocking serpent figures, composed of a head with a single round eye and separated by S and C-shaped scrolls.

Literature comparison:
Compare a related bronze steamer, also dated to the Western Zhou dynasty, in the collection of the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery in the National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, accession number S1987.352a-b.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby's New York, 23 March 2022, lot 231
Price: USD 107,100 or approx. EUR 104,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A rare inscribed archaic bronze ritual vessel (Yan), Early Western Zhou dynasty
Expert remark: Compare the related form with similar feet, bowstring bands, and size (34.5 cm)



西周三足銅甗
中國，公元前1100-771年。甗分兩部分：一甑一鬲。甑部與鬲部相連，甑底有十字紋的箅，外壁修飾三道雲雷紋。三足鬲。

來源：加拿大溫哥華私人收藏，為資助維多利亞美術館而出售；歐洲古玩交易，購於上述收藏。位於加拿大不列顛哥倫比亞省維多利亞的維多利亞美術館於 1951 年首次開放，收藏了近 20,000 件藝術品。該美術館擁有大約 8,000 件亞洲藏品，是加拿大第二大亞洲藝術收藏品，僅次於皇家安大略博物館。亞洲古玩的收藏主要是來自中國和日本的作品。
品相：整體狀況良好。 大面積磨損、風化和侵蝕跡象、小刻痕和裂縫。 細膩且天然包漿，大量的紅綠結殼。

重量：2130 克
尺寸：高31.2 厘米

文獻比較：
比較一件相近的西周三足銅甗，收藏於史密森尼學會管轄的亞瑟·M·賽克勒美術館，編號S1987.352a-b。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：紐約蘇富比，2022年3月23日，lot 231
價格：USD 107,100（相當於今日EUR 104,500）
描述：西周初期溫弗生甗
專家評論：比較相近的外形、三足、弦紋、紋帶和尺寸 (34.5 厘米)。