China, 5th-4th century BC. The vessel of pear form, cast with four horizontal bands of interlocking and confronted kui-dragons, divided by raised, narrower bands decorated with stylized cicada and geometric designs, above a band of S-form dragons enclosing the mouth, and the neck set with two powerful taotie masks in crisp reliefs, suspending ring handles.

The domed and very heavy cover similarly decorated with a dragon border and surmounted by three loop finials.

The neck is cast with a four-character inscription between the two decorative bands, and the base is cast with a nineteen-character inscription.

Provenance: From a very important private collector in Barcelona, Spain. The cover with two old labels, one to the exterior inscribed 'R-9231. Pareja de Jarros Rituales para vino. 44 X 32' and 'EBA', and the other to the interior inscribed '13816-70'.
Condition: Good condition with expected ancient wear, signs of prolonged burial, encrustations, losses, nicks, small cracks, and scratches. The body with seam lines and old soldering marks. Traces of weathering and deeper corrosion. The bronze covered overall in a rich, naturally grown patina with vibrant malachite and cuprite encrustations.

Spanish Export License: Permiso de Exportación definitiva, file no. 2025/032403, dated 23 January 2026, has been granted by the Dirección General de Patrimonio Cultural y Bellas Artes, Ministerio de Cultura, Gobierno de España. A copy accompanies this lot.

Weight: 7.7 kg
Dimensions: Height 43.5 cm

The present Hu is a remarkable example of the creativity associated with Bronze Age design evolution in China, first developing in the Western Zhou period, after which ritual bronzes continued to become increasingly elaborate throughout the Eastern Zhou period.

Bronze Hu vessels served as wine containers during the performance of sacrificial ceremonies aimed at worshiping the ancestors. Highly elaborate vessels, such as the present example, were reserved for the highest-ranking members of society and were thus powerful indicators of the power and wealth of their owner.

Although Hu vessels may have been in use since the Shang dynasty, they only became truly popular during the Zhou dynasty, with many variants being produced at this time. The present example exhibits a dense sculptural decoration that is the direct result of the use of 'master decor stamps', also known as 'pattern blocks', which facilitated the mold-making process and brought about specialization and mass production to meet the rapid commercialization of the bronze industry.

Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related bronze hu and cover, dated circa 5th-4th century BC, 37.7 cm high, in the British Museum, registration number 1960,0724.1. Compare another closely related copper-inlaid bronze wine hu, dated early 5th century BC, 39.1 cm tall, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, object number 1999.46a, b.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Bonhams London, 13 May 2021, lot 54
Price: GBP 37,750 or approx. EUR 54,000 (for two) converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A rare pair of archaic bronze ritual wine vessels, hu, Warring States Period
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, manner of casting, and motifs. Note the smaller size (36 cm), missing covers, and lack of inscriptions.