ARCHAIC BRONZE TRIPOD VESSEL, Liding

This crisply cast bronze Liding has a silver grey patina with cuprite and shades of malachite green encrustation on the surface. From the flared mouth rim rise a pair of thick flat loop handles. Below the neck is a thick band of leiwen design and masks. The robustly lobed belly of the Liding has three pendulous sections terminating in rounded points where the three round tapering legs join the body.
 

Centered, with the protruding nose directly above each of the legs, is a prominent dissolved ox head pattern including bold upturned horns, against a geometric feather-like design. Between each head, on the neck, the vertical flange enhanced in size and with hooked decoration continues down to the large Ox head separating the raised horns and eyes above the raised mouth.
 

Raised cheeks are separated to the side of the face. The combination of this powerful shape and the distinct decorative features of this rare archaic bronze vessel appear to be almost unique amongst published and known Archaic Bronze Li.