Late Shang-Early Western Zhou dynasty, 11th-10th century BC A mysterious and powerful ritual wine vessel with lid, referred to as a ‘you’. The vessel is pear-shaped, of oval section, it is raised upon a foot with expands from the body to the bottom, each side with a banding of kui dragon scrolls formed by two dragons with head in backward turning position, centred by zoomorphic taotie mask cast in high relief. The cover is cast with two centred taotie masks and a continuation of dragon scrolls. The handle can move from left to right offering flexibility, which terminates at each end with a stylised zoomorphic animal, most likely a kui dragon mask. The powerful ‘you’ vessel is a type of wine vessel made for the royal family or members of high ruling important members of society. These were placed in the tombs of deceased, and were used for ritual rites, normally placed on an altar. The Chinese descendants we provided elaborate rights to their ancestors, for them to be protected against evil. Size: L:310mm / W:170mm; 2.1kg Provenance: Private collection of a London doctor; formerly in a Somerset Estate collection; acquired from Hong Kong galleries in the early 1990s.