AN ARCHAIC BRONZE RITUAL VESSEL AND COVER, DINGEastern Zhou Dynasty/Warring States PeriodThe deep rounded body sturdily supported on three tall cabriole legs issuing from a mythical beast mask, flanked by a pair of upright loop handles, the body elaborately decorated with two bands of stylised scrolling dragons divided by a raised rib, the flattened domed cover similarly decorated surmounted with three finials in the form of a recumbent ox, the surface patinated to a dark brown tone.30.5cm (12 in) wide (2).Provenance: 東周/戰國 青銅龍紋蓋鼎Provenance:Mandala Fine Arts, Hong Kong, 2000s來源：Mandala Fine Arts，香港，2000年代The presentding vessel resembles designs on a set of 7 ritual bronzes which were excavated in a Spring and Autumn period tomb in Shanxi Province, supported on three bovine-headed waisted legs, illustrated inZhongguo qingtongqi quanji, Beijing, 1998, vol.8, nos.19-20; see also a closely related late Spring and Autumn period ritual bronzeding vessel in the Shanghai Museum collection, illustrated inibid., no.23.此鼎為一套升鼎之一，春秋時期《公羊傳》裏記載：「天子九鼎，諸侯七。卿大夫五，元士三也。」然而東周禮崩樂壞，諸侯常有僭越，如山西金勝村春秋時期趙卿墓便出土了三組七鼎、六鼎、五鼎，其中一組七鼎形制與裝飾與本鼎頗似，足部裝飾牛頭，見《中國青銅器全集》，北京，1998年，卷8，編號19及20。上海博物館藏一件春秋晚期青銅蟠龍紋鼎與本件則更似，三足亦是光素，見前書，編號23。