Chinese bronze and especially exceptional examples with impeccable provenance generate significant interest within the market. Chinese bronze items are prized for their exquisite craftsmanship and historical significance, and the right provenance can drive prices into the millions.
We run through the five highest-priced Chinese bronze sold at public auction, including what makes each piece extraordinary. If you have Chinese bronze that you would like valued then please get in touch for a no obligation valuation using the form below, or on our Asian art valuations page.
5. Late Shang Ritual Wine Vessel (Ram-form Gong)
This late Shang bronze gong is a zoomorphic wine vessel exquisitely cast in the form of a recumbent ram. It was part of a historic sale by Christies in 2017 and achieved just over US$27 million (approx £20.9 million).
The distinctive ram shaped bronze measured just 22 cm in length yet boasts an astonishing level of detail. Animal-shaped bronzes are the rarest category of Chinese archaic vessels, often created as prestige items for elite ritual use. Specialist Vasiliki Paloympis noted that “only a handful of comparable pieces are known to exist, although none are rams that are this elaborate or in such good condition.” This exceptional example was formerly part of a collection of Chinese art pieces held by the Fujita Museum holdings, that were offered for sale in a prestigious sale in 2017 and generated several exceptional, record setting prices.
Asian Art Valuations
For Asian art valuations we can personally recommend the specialists below. Both are leading UK experts in Chinese, Japanese and South East Asian works of art.
Alexander Clement MRICS ASFAV
Asian Art, Watches and General Valuations
Halls Fine Art
Tel: +44 (0)1743 450700
Email: [email protected]
About Alexander
Alexander studied History of Art and Design at Staffordshire University and began his career as curator of the Royal Doulton Museum. He later ran the Ceramics, Glass and Asian Art departments at Phillips (later Bonhams), before becoming Director of the Chester saleroom. Since joining Halls Fine Art in 2015, he has built a highly successful Asian art department, achieving house record prices and handling important collections across the UK.
Bill Forrest
Director | Head of Department, Chinese, Japanese & South East Asian Art
Roseberys
Tel: +44 (0)20 8761 2522
Email: [email protected]
About Bill
Bill graduated in Ancient History from the University of Leeds and is a member of the Oriental Ceramic Society. He joined Roseberys in 2015 and was appointed Head of Department for Chinese and Japanese Works of Art in 2016. He has achieved notable results for important Chinese works, including six-figure hammer prices, and regularly undertakes UK and international valuations of Asian art.
4. Late Shang Ritual Wine Vessel and Cover (Pou)
A bronze pou (round-bellied ritual wine container with its original cover) from the late Shang dynasty achieved over $27 million when it sold at Christie’s in 2017. Matching the ram form bronze above.
This example was exceptionally preserved with its lid. Its surface is ornamented with typical Shang motifs and retains areas of malachite-green patina. The pou’s form and fine casting suggest it may have belonged to the highest echelons of Shang society. In fact, prominent archaic bronze expert Christian Deydier observed that this piece is “extremely rare” and believes “it was possibly unearthed from the tomb of Wu Ding”, a powerful Shang king. The combination of its rarity, intact cover, and potential royal lineage drove its price to a level achieved by only a handful of bronzes, making it a highlight of the Fujita Museum collection sale.
3. Western Zhou Inscribed Bronze Basin (“Xi Jia Pan”)
This bronze pan (basin) from the Western Zhou dynasty (dated 823 BC) achieved a record-breaking ¥185 million (approx £21 million) when it sold in mainland China in 2017.
Known as the “Xi Jia Pan”, it is a wide, shallow ritual vessel with two handles, created for ceremonial ablutions or libations. Its immense historical value lies in an inscription of 133 Chinese characters engraved on the interior which is the longest known inscription on any ancient bronze. Renowned since its discovery in the Song dynasty, it was once in the Southern Song imperial collection. The vessel’s bronze surface bears a smooth green patina, and despite repairs (its feet were broken in antiquity), it is revered as a “national treasure” of China. The extraordinary inscription and illustrious provenance (imperial and scholarly documented) make the Xi Jia Pan uniquely significant. Its sale set a new auction record for Chinese antiquities in China.
2. Late Shang Ritual Wine Vessel (Fanglei)
A magnificent and highly important bronze ritual wine vessel, fanglei from the Late Shang dynasty, Anyang, 13th–11th century B.C. sold for $33,847,500 (approx £26.1 million) at Christie’s New York in 2017.
This monumental bronze fanglei (square lei wine jar with cover) is around 63.5 cm tall and is one of the largest and most celebrated of all Chinese ritual bronzes. This example was part of the 2017 sale offered by the Fujita Museum in Japan and as such drew frenzied bidding for its provenance and scale. Christie’s noted it “ranks among the most important Chinese archaic bronzes to ever appear at auction.”
1. Late Shang Ritual Wine Vessel (Fangzun)
A late Shang dynasty bronze fangzun ritual wine vessel from the 13th–11th century BC sold for US$37,207,500 (approx £28.7 million) at Christie’s New York in 2017.
This 52cm high fangzun is considered a masterpiece of Shang bronze casting. Used to offer wine in solemn ancestral ceremonies, it is richly decorated with taotie monster masks and kui dragons in crisp relief on a thunder-pattern ground, divided by prominent vertical flanges. The mythical creature motifs exemplify Shang artisans’ blend of real and imagined animals. Its smooth, dark-green patina and areas of malachite encrustation testify to its incredible age, and help make this fangzun among the finest archaic bronzes known. It was formerly in the Fujita Museum (Osaka) and its sale in 2017 set a world auction record for any archaic bronze.
