An important and rare elegant "Gu" shaped bronze vase
Carved in the archaistic "Gu"-shape, with a projecting central section between the tall flaring neck with a trumpet-shaped mouth and the tall spreading foot. Its exterior surfaces carved in low relief with Taotie masks within two horizontal bands, the foot decorated with four elephant heads between leaves on leiwen ground.
Style of: Shang (13th – 11th century BC) Antiques Analytics states 'produced in late 16th or early 17th century' (Sample AA 18-080612)
Height: 24.5cm
Very rare due to elephant decorations
D.Deydier, Les Bronzes Chinois, pg.222, no 43. http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2011/arts-dasie-pf1107/lot.27.html. http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/16868/lot/1