A VERY RARE MINIATURE BRONZE RITUAL WINE VESSEL AND COVER, YOU, LATE SHANG DYNASTY, 12TH-11TH CENTURY BC

A VERY RARE MINIATURE BRONZE RITUAL WINE VESSEL AND COVER, YOU
LATE SHANG DYNASTY, 12TH-11TH CENTURY BC
The pear-shaped body of oval section is raised on a foot encircled by a band of stylized dragons and is finely cast on each side with a large taotie mask formed by a pair of dragons confronted on a flange, their raised, hooked tails positioned above small dragons separated by further flanges, all below pairs of birds centered by the animal-mask terminals of the arched handle which is cast on top with parallel grooves. The cover is cast at each end with further taotie masks above beak-like projections and a band of stylized dragons on the vertical sides, all below a segmented, conical finial. The bronze has a dark greenish-grey patina and minor malachite encrustation.
4 ½ in. (11.5 cm.) high with handle