What is a Chinese He ritual bronze vessel?

A He is an archaic Chinese bronze vessel used primarily during the Shang and Zhou dynasties for mixing and pouring ritual wines or water during ancestral ceremonies.

How were Shang dynasty style bronze vessels made?

These vessels were traditionally crafted using the piece-mould casting technique, which allowed intricate relief carvings, high detail, and geometric patterns to be transferred directly into the cast metal.

How can one identify authentic archaic Chinese bronzes?

Authentic archaic bronzes typically display natural, deeply integrated encrustation and oxidisation, distinct surface wear, and precise piece-mould seams without modern machine marks or synthetic artificial patinas.

How do you style a Chinese ritual bronze vessel in a modern interior?

Position the bronze vessel as a focal decorative object on a dark wood sideboard, within a curated bookshelf alcove, or alongside minimalist modern ceramics to create visual contrast.

How should patinated bronze artefacts be cleaned and maintained?

Maintain patinated bronze by dusting gently with a soft dry brush or microfiber cloth, avoiding harsh chemical cleaners, liquids, or abrasive polishes that strip natural oxidisation.

for sale €1,275 $1,384

£1,090

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Antique Chinese Bronze

Id #SA1230072

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Large Chinese Shang Dynasty Style Ritual Bronze 'He' Wine Vessel with Human Face

Name: Large Chinese Shang Dynasty Style Ritual Bronze 'He' Wine Vessel with Human Face
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA1230072
Price: 1090 GBP
Availability: InStock

1900 - 1920

For Sale by Artsonline

Description

Large Chinese Shang Dynasty Style Ritual Bronze 'HE' Wine Vessel with Human Face

Brief Description:

This is a spectacular and highly unusual large Chinese archaic-style bronze vessel, modelled in the form of a wonderfully expressive mythical horned beast.

A truly remarkable decorative object, the vessel features an enormous anthropomorphic face with prominent flared horns, raised eyebrows, projecting eyes, broad nose and stylised ears, giving the piece an extraordinary presence when viewed from the front.

The bulbous body is extensively decorated with intricate archaistic motifs, scrolling designs and geometric borders, while a prominent tubular spout projects from the centre of the lower body.

Of particular appeal is the wonderful naturally aged surface, displaying extensive green and turquoise verdigris, oxidation and areas of exposed metal, creating a superb archaeological appearance and tremendous depth of character.

The design appears to draw inspiration from the extraordinary ritual bronzes of ancient China, particularly the fantastic animal and taotie-inspired masks that feature so prominently within early Chinese bronze art.

It is a substantial and extremely impressive display piece, and its wonderfully eccentric expression ensures that it immediately commands attention wherever it is placed.

The vessel displays beautifully from every angle and would make a fabulous statement piece within a collection of Chinese, Asian or antiquarian works of art.

Attributes:

Chinese

Bronze

Circa: 1900-1920

Condition:

Presented in good decorative condition with extensive surface patination, verdigris, oxidation, rubbing and age-related wear throughout, all of which contribute enormously to its character and appearance.

Please study the accompanying photographs carefully, as they form an integral part of the condition report.

Overall Measurements:

INCHES & CENTIMETRES

Height: 12'' | 30.4 cm

Width: 10.5'' | 26.6 cm

Depth: 13.8'' | 35 cm

^^ Fast & Free UK Delivery Included^^

*A Certificate Of Authenticity (COA) will be provided by artsonline with this piece*

Delivery

Artsonline UK ships worldwide daily, using only fully insured, priority, and fully tracked delivery services.

Great care and much time are taken over the safe transportation of the Fine Art and Antique pieces that we sell.

We pack extremely carefully, so you can rest assured that your piece will arrive with you in perfect condition.

For larger paintings, antique furniture pieces, and fragile items that can not be sent via the normal postal services, we use professional door-to-door delivery providers, who will always strive to deliver your piece promptly, within approx. 7-14 working days.

Returns Policy

Artsonline provides a genuine no-quibble 14-day money-back refund policy

(excluding the cost of Postage and Packaging).

Pay securely - Telephone orders welcome

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Physical Dimensions

Height

30.4cm (11.97")

Width

26.6cm (10.47")

Depth

35cm (13.78")

Declaration

Artsonline has dated this Chinese Ritual Bronze Vessel to the 1920s.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA1230072

Dealers Notes

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Description

Large Chinese Shang Dynasty Style Ritual Bronze 'HE' Wine Vessel with Human Face

Brief Description:

“

This is a spectacular and highly unusual large Chinese archaic-style bronze vessel, modelled in the form of a wonderfully expressive mythical horned beast.

Artsonline

fig 1. A cast bronze ritual vessel featuring a stylised human face with horn-like projections, a small tubular spout, and textured surface oxidisation. — fig 1. Large Chinese Shang Dynasty Style Ritual Bronze 'He' Wine Vessel with Human Face

A truly remarkable decorative object, the vessel features an enormous anthropomorphic face with prominent flared horns, raised eyebrows, projecting eyes, broad nose and stylised ears, giving the piece an extraordinary presence when viewed from the front.

fig 2. A cast bronze ritual vessel featuring a stylised human face with horn-like projections, a small tubular spout, and textured surface oxidisation. — fig 2. Large Chinese Shang Dynasty Style Ritual Bronze 'He' Wine Vessel with Human Face

The bulbous body is extensively decorated with intricate archaistic motifs, scrolling designs and geometric borders, while a prominent tubular spout projects from the centre of the lower body.

Of particular appeal is the wonderful naturally aged surface, displaying extensive green and turquoise verdigris, oxidation and areas of exposed metal, creating a superb archaeological appearance and tremendous depth of character.

fig 3. A cast bronze ritual vessel featuring a stylised human face with horn-like projections, a small tubular spout, and textured surface oxidisation. — fig 3. Large Chinese Shang Dynasty Style Ritual Bronze 'He' Wine Vessel with Human Face

The design appears to draw inspiration from the extraordinary ritual bronzes of ancient China, particularly the fantastic animal and taotie-inspired masks that feature so prominently within early Chinese bronze art.

fig 4. A cast bronze ritual vessel featuring a stylised human face with horn-like projections, a small tubular spout, and textured surface oxidisation. — fig 4. Large Chinese Shang Dynasty Style Ritual Bronze 'He' Wine Vessel with Human Face

It is a substantial and extremely impressive display piece, and its wonderfully eccentric expression ensures that it immediately commands attention wherever it is placed.

The vessel displays beautifully from every angle and would make a fabulous statement piece within a collection of Chinese, Asian or antiquarian works of art.

fig 5. A cast bronze ritual vessel featuring a stylised human face with horn-like projections, a small tubular spout, and textured surface oxidisation. — fig 5. Large Chinese Shang Dynasty Style Ritual Bronze 'He' Wine Vessel with Human Face

Attributes:

Chinese

Bronze

Circa: 1900-1920

Condition:

Presented in good decorative condition with extensive surface patination, verdigris, oxidation, rubbing and age-related wear throughout, all of which contribute enormously to its character and appearance.

fig 6. A cast bronze ritual vessel featuring a stylised human face with horn-like projections, a small tubular spout, and textured surface oxidisation. — fig 6. Large Chinese Shang Dynasty Style Ritual Bronze 'He' Wine Vessel with Human Face

Please study the accompanying photographs carefully, as they form an integral part of the condition report.

Overall Measurements:

INCHES & CENTIMETRES

Height: 12'' | 30.4 cm

Width: 10.5'' | 26.6 cm

Depth: 13.8'' | 35 cm

fig 7. A cast bronze ritual vessel featuring a stylised human face with horn-like projections, a small tubular spout, and textured surface oxidisation. — fig 7. Large Chinese Shang Dynasty Style Ritual Bronze 'He' Wine Vessel with Human Face

^^ Fast & Free UK Delivery Included^^

A Certificate Of Authenticity (COA) will be provided by artsonline with this piece*

Delivery

Artsonline UK ships worldwide daily, using only fully insured, priority, and fully tracked delivery services.

fig 8. A cast bronze ritual vessel featuring a stylised human face with horn-like projections, a small tubular spout, and textured surface oxidisation. — fig 8. Large Chinese Shang Dynasty Style Ritual Bronze 'He' Wine Vessel with Human Face

Great care and much time are taken over the safe transportation of the Fine Art and Antique pieces that we sell.

We pack extremely carefully, so you can rest assured that your piece will arrive with you in perfect condition.

fig 9. A cast bronze ritual vessel featuring a stylised human face with horn-like projections, a small tubular spout, and textured surface oxidisation. — fig 9. Large Chinese Shang Dynasty Style Ritual Bronze 'He' Wine Vessel with Human Face

For larger paintings, antique furniture pieces, and fragile items that can not be sent via the normal postal services, we use professional door-to-door delivery providers, who will always strive to deliver your piece promptly, within approx. 7-14 working days.