402 - A large Chinese bronze archaic food vessel and cover, dingEastern Zhou dynasty (770–256 BC)47cm high x 55cm diameterProvenance:A Private English Collection, originally purchased from Terry West in the 2000s.Originating in the pottery forms of the late Neolithic period, the tripod ding is among the most important and iconic vessels produced in China's history; a symbol of power, prosperity, and the nation's ancient past. Of impressive scale and proportion, the present vessel would likely have been the largest in a set of Ding vessels (lieding). Measuring 55 centimetres in diameter, the vessel commands a powerful presence and possibly used as a ceremonial cooking vessel by the Royal House. The underside of the Ding vessel retains the fire marks from the Eastern Zhou sacrificial ceremonies, bearing witness to rituals performed millennia ago.The decorative scheme is characteristic of the sophisticated metallurgical workshops of the Eastern Zhou dynasty. The exterior is crisply cast with interlocking panchi miniature dragon motifs, arranged in rhythmic bands that contrast with the vertical thrust of the prominent flanges and the refined banana-leaf (jiaoye) patterns. The surface displays a rich, unctuous patina of malachite encrustation intermingled with areas of smooth, dark olive-brown metallic skin.東周 青銅蟠虺蕉葉紋大鼎拍品來源：英國私人收藏，2000年左右購自英國古董商Terry West青銅鼎作為中華彞器中至尊至重之核心器類，為王權、尊榮與千古文脈之象徵。此器體量宏偉、比例精妙，器寬達罕見的五十五公分，在昔日的列鼎制度中當為巨擘，或曾為周王室宗廟大典之禮器，大鼎底部仍可見千年前祭祀的火燒痕跡。其裝飾工藝盡顯東周冶金之精湛。器身佈滿規整的蟠虺紋，與挺拔的扉棱及精緻的蕉葉紋交相輝映，節奏井然。

A large Chinese bronze archaic food vessel and cover, dingEastern Zhou dynasty (770–256 BC)47cm high x 55cm diameterProvenance:A Private English Collection, originally purchased from Terry West in the 2000s.Originating in the pottery forms of the late Neolithic period, the tripod ding is among the most important and iconic vessels produced in China's history; a symbol of power, prosperity, and the nation's ancient past. Of impressive scale and proportion, the present vessel would likely have been the largest in a set of Ding vessels (lieding). Measuring 55 centimetres in diameter, the vessel commands a powerful presence and possibly used as a ceremonial cooking vessel by the Royal House. The underside of the Ding vessel retains the fire marks from the Eastern Zhou sacrificial ceremonies, bearing witness to rituals performed millennia ago.The decorative scheme is characteristic of the sophisticated metallurgical workshops of the Eastern Zhou dynasty. The exterior is crisply cast with interlocking panchi miniature dragon motifs, arranged in rhythmic bands that contrast with the vertical thrust of the prominent flanges and the refined banana-leaf (jiaoye) patterns. The surface displays a rich, unctuous patina of malachite encrustation intermingled with areas of smooth, dark olive-brown metallic skin.東周 青銅蟠虺蕉葉紋大鼎拍品來源：英國私人收藏，2000年左右購自英國古董商Terry West青銅鼎作為中華彞器中至尊至重之核心器類，為王權、尊榮與千古文脈之象徵。此器體量宏偉、比例精妙，器寬達罕見的五十五公分，在昔日的列鼎制度中當為巨擘，或曾為周王室宗廟大典之禮器，大鼎底部仍可見千年前祭祀的火燒痕跡。其裝飾工藝盡顯東周冶金之精湛。器身佈滿規整的蟠虺紋，與挺拔的扉棱及精緻的蕉葉紋交相輝映，節奏井然。 Condition Report: one leg broken and re-attachedone handle off and restoredsurface consolidated and Verdigris and corrosion and encrustation