WESTERN ZHOU "RING MOTIF" BRONZE DING TRIPOD VESSEL 西周青铜鼎

A late-early Western Zhou Dynasty BC1046-771 archaic ritual Ding tripod vessel. The Ding with a deep U-shaped body with flared rim, scrolling ring motif decoration to the body, two upright handles, and three hoofed feet. A similar ring motif can be found in an example from Mao Gong Ding, National Palace Museum Taipei, Taiwan. The surface with sage-green and brownish patina with some encrustation. Measures approx. 30cm tall, 29 cm diameter, weight 6.5kg (6500g).

西周青铜回纹双耳鼎

Provenance: The piece was acquired by Mr. Tan Ying Kui (1897-1976). Mr Tan was the former manager of Zhuang Wan Yi Trading company in the Philippines and Hong Kong during the 1920s. It has remained in the vendor's family since.

Note: In Chinese history and culture, possession of one or more ancient ding is associated with power and dominion over the land. Therefore, the ding is often used as an implicit symbolism for power. The term "acquiring of the ding" (Chinese: 问鼎; pinyin: wèn dǐng) is often used interchangeably with the quest for power.