CHINESE CARVED GREY HARDSTONE RECTANGULAR DING

CARVED CHARCOAL-GREY AND CELADON-MOTTLED HARDSTONE, COMPRISING A RECTANGULAR VESSEL WITH OVERHANGING LIP FLANKED BY A PAIR OF SQUARE LOOP HANDLES , SUPPORTED ON FOUR CYLINDRICAL PILLAR FEET, FITTED WITH A STEPPED PYRAMIDAL COVER SURMOUNTED BY A SQUARE KNOB INCISED WITH A WHIRL/SPIRAL MOTIF, COVER INCISED WITH TAOTIE MASKS. THE CAULDRON BODY WORKED IN LOW RELIEF ON FOUR SIDES IN ARCHAIC SHANG/ZHOU BRONZE-STYLE ICONOGRAPHY MEASURES 7 IN HIGH, 4.75 X 4.75 IN