Chinese Han Dynasty Hu - Taotie Maskettes
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Description
**Originally Listed At $800**
East Asia, China, Han Dynasty, ca. 206 BCE to 220 CE. A hand-built pottery funerary jar, known as a "hu" vessel, that is of sizable, flat-bottomed form with a pair of stylized taotie maskettes acting as ring handle holders. The grayware vessel displays faint remains of vibrant red-orange and black pigment that would have perhaps created swirling, sweeping motifs resembling clouds - evocative of celestial and immortal realms. Hu vessels were used for storing offerings of wine for the deceased, and were influenced by far older bronze wine vessels produced for the elite of ancient Chinese society from the late Shang Dynasty through to the Warring States. Size: 9.625" W x 10" H (24.4 cm x 25.4 cm)
Provenance: private Santa Barbara, California, USA collection; ex-Charles Craig collection, before 2000
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#179017
East Asia, China, Han Dynasty, ca. 206 BCE to 220 CE. A hand-built pottery funerary jar, known as a "hu" vessel, that is of sizable, flat-bottomed form with a pair of stylized taotie maskettes acting as ring handle holders. The grayware vessel displays faint remains of vibrant red-orange and black pigment that would have perhaps created swirling, sweeping motifs resembling clouds - evocative of celestial and immortal realms. Hu vessels were used for storing offerings of wine for the deceased, and were influenced by far older bronze wine vessels produced for the elite of ancient Chinese society from the late Shang Dynasty through to the Warring States. Size: 9.625" W x 10" H (24.4 cm x 25.4 cm)
Provenance: private Santa Barbara, California, USA collection; ex-Charles Craig collection, before 2000
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#179017
Condition
One stable hairline fissure along rim, and loss to one ring handle as shown. Fading to surface pigment, softening to some finer details on taotie masks,
Buyer's Premium
- 26.5%
Chinese Han Dynasty Hu - Taotie Maskettes
Estimate $700 - $1,050
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Item located in Louisville, CO, usOffers In-House Shipping
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Auction Curated By
Owner/Executive Director, Antiquities & Pre-Columbian Art
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