Decortype › Metalwork › Cast Bronze & Brass

Chinese ritual bronzes

China tradition · 5 examples · indicative market tier: $1M+ (trophy / museum grade)

From c. 1650 BC, elaborately decorated bronze vessels were deposited as grave goods in the tombs of royalty and nobility during the Chinese Bronze Age. Documented excavations have found over 200 pieces in a single royal tomb. They were produced for an individual or social group to use in making ritual offerings of food and drink to his or their ancestors and other deities or spirits. Wikipedia →

Types & examples

Wine Vessel (Jia)
Wine Vessel (Jia), c. 1250–1046 BCE
Cleveland Museum of Art
Square Wine Container (Fangyou)
Square Wine Container (Fangyou), c. 1250–1046 BCE
Cleveland Museum of Art
Wine Vessel (Fu Wu Zun)
Wine Vessel (Fu Wu Zun), c. 1000–900 BCE
Cleveland Museum of Art
Wine Vessel (Hu)
Wine Vessel (Hu), early 400s BCE
Cleveland Museum of Art
Wine pouring vessel (Gong)
Wine pouring vessel (Gong), 13th–11th century BCE
The Met

Where to buy

1stDibsHigh-end antiques & design marketplaceBrowse listings → LiveAuctioneersAggregated live auctions worldwideBrowse listings → InvaluableAuction-house listings & price archiveBrowse listings → Christie'sMajor-auction results & upcoming salesBrowse listings → EtsyLiving artisans & vintage dealersBrowse listings → eBayBroad secondary market — vet sellers carefullyBrowse listings →

Each link opens a live, image-rich search for this craft on that marketplace. Listings rotate constantly; authenticate significant pieces independently — attribution quality varies widely outside museum collections.