A rare Chinese archaistic bronze 'Fang Ding' ritual food vessel with inscription, Song or earlier

1094
This lot was sold on 2023-02-22 and is no longer available

Dim.: 22,5 x 18 x 13 cm

Weight: 1862 grams

Provenance:
- A Belgian private collection.
- An old Japanese collection in Hiroshima, before the Second World War (by repute).

The inscription on the inside is Xi Zi Sun 析子孙, which was originally the clan badge of Zuyi, Shang king Wuding’s eldest son.
This was a strong royal family clan during the late Shang to early Zhou dynasty.

Condition: (UV-checked)
- Generally in very good condition, with normal minor superficial wear and patination.
- Two superficial dents on one side.
- A corner slightly retouched.
- Some green corrosion on the inside.

品相報告:(已用紫外線光檢查)
- 香爐整體狀況非常良好,正常磨損,包漿渾厚。
- 爐身一側有兩處凹陷。
- 爐身一個角有輕微修復痕跡。
- 爐內有綠鏽。


銘文為 "析子孫"
另見台北故宮藏一件析子孫父乙扁足鼎也有“析子孫”銘。
以下銘文:
宋代学者将此类图形解读为 “子孙” 或“析子孙”,意为子孙永宝用,
如吕大临《考古图》云:“此便于书其文有若大小人形者,盖谓孙与子,
小者孙,大者子,如称子孙永宝用之类。”王黼《博古图》云“曰析子孙,
乃贻厥子孙之意”。近代学者对于此类图形的释读各不相同,如王襄释为“异”,
叶玉森释作“桴”,丁山将此图上部释为“保”,下部释作“翼”,即古“冀”字,
于省吾释为“举”字之初文,而郭沫若将其解释为古代氏族的标识。
在众说之中,尤以王国维的考证发人深省。
王国维云,此类图中的大小人形,如大人抱子为尸。
《礼记·曲礼》曰:“君子抱孙不抱子,此言孙可以为王父尸。”
又《礼记·曾子问》引孔子语:“祭成丧者必有尸,尸必以孙,孙幼则使人抱之”,
可知古时为尸者的年纪恒幼,故作大人抱子之形。此类图上部或两旁所置之“ ”,
乃“几”侧面之形。《周礼·春官·司几筵》:“凡大朝觐、大飨射,凡封国、命诸侯,王位设黼依”,
“ 左右玉几也”。“ 祀先王,昨席亦如之”。《周礼·天官·大宰》云享先王“赞玉几”,
郑玄注:“玉几所以依神,天子左右玉几。”是故此类图形是大人抱子,将其放在几间为尸之状。

Price incl. premium: € 5.865