WESTERN ZHOU DYNASTY (CIRCA 1100-771 BC)

The compressed globular body flanked by a pair of C-shaped handles issuing from rams head, boldly decorated in relief on each side with a taotie mask with large horns and protruding eyes in between two friezes of archaistic kui-dragons against a leiwen ground, further surmounted by a smaller animal mask in high relief at the top of a shallow flange below the lipped rim, the surface unevenly patinated and encrusted.

H 15.5 cm