銘文：子祖癸

日本私人收藏
倫敦蘇富比1998年11月18日，編號875

口約1/4及上頸部破損至三塊（均經重接），最大一塊約5x7公分；一道相應裂紋環繞上頸延伸。口沿另見數道微細裂紋。底部見一原始補片。表面見氧化痕跡（如圖錄所示）。見正常淺磕、凹痕及細微缺失等。X光片可供索取。
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The present vessel features a decorative restraint and distinctive rendering of taotie with well defined, disconnected elements cast in relief; the horns over brows and oval protruding eyes set to to either side of the raised bridge of the nose leading to the  grimacing mouth, set with fangs against a plain ground. This unusual format is shared by other bronzes attributed to the late Shang dynasty.  A zun with related characteristics is illustrated in Robert W. Bagley, Shang Ritual Bronzes in the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, Washington D.C., 1987, pl. 49. In writing about the eccentric representation of the taotie,  Bagley illustrates a gu with taotie closely related to the present example (ibid, fig. 49.21) which was sold at Christie's New York, 21st September 1995, lot 294. A nearly identical vessel to the present example from the Karlbeck Collection is illustrated in Osvald Siren, Kinas Konst Under Tre Artusenden, vol. I, Stockholm, 1942, col. pl. opposite p. 38. See also a vessel of the same form and decoration sold in our London rooms, 6th April 1976, lot 4.