Shang Era (1600-1045BC) Bronze Hu Vessel

Picked this up earlier today at an estate sale. Anybody out there have an idea what this would go for? Measures appx. 8.25"H x 3.5"W at its widest. Wooden stand carved to fit Hu bottom foot. Can't say if stand is that old, Hu definite.

 

$25-30?

My gut feeling is that the item was made in 20th C. And has value only as a decorative piece. Think u need to have someone with the proper expertise look it over hands-on. I'm no expert.

 

ARCHAIC BRONZE VESSEL, HU
Mid Western Zhou Dynasty (10th-9th Century BCE)

Height: 16 in. (40.6 cm)
Provenance: Private Canadian Collector
Weisbrod Chinese Art, Ltd., New York Chinese Collection, Florida; Far Eastern Chinese Collection (one of a pair)
This Bronze Hu is one of a Pair of Bronze Hu, formerly in the above-mentioned Chinese Collection. The other Hu, one of the pair, was sold in Christie’s New York, March 26th 2003, lot 155 and is currently in the Collection of Compton Verney, Warwickshire, England. The Compton Verney Hu was illustrated by Jessica Rawson, ‘Chinese Bronzes at Compton Verney’, Orientations, November/December 2004, page 47.




I'm not sure yours looks like this one......maybe a pro could help you ...

 

One thing you could check pretty quickly is to look up known, genuine Hu's in museums. Kind of a Hu's hu. Take down the height of each. If the ancient Hu are say all over 15" tall, then your 8+-inch tall one is almost certainly a souvenir, modern miniature, etc. Quick and easy.

 

The early Shang era bronzes were more small and with simple decorations, mainly with the taoist mask. Late Shang era were more elaborate and larger and also tended to have dedications written into them.

 

So now I know the vessel is a revival of an archaic bronze, not a Shang dynasty bronze, but probably cast in the Ming dynasty.