Bidspirit auction | Cup with stem and handles

Cup with stem and handles with Tao Tie masks, China, Warring States Period, 5th - 3rd century BC. - Terracotta. Height 29.4 cm x diameter 52.8 cm. Large cup resting on a raised ring-shaped foot, with an open body and wide profile that emphasizes its ceremonial function. The surface is articulated by three horizontal relief lines that run the length of the vessel, while the sides feature handles decorated with Tao Tie masks, evoking the formal repertoire of archaic bronzes. The modeling combines structural solidity and compositional clarity, with well-defined volumes and a balanced overall effect. The texture of the terracotta and the marks of the manufacturing process lend a material character to the piece. This work is attributable to the Warring States Period, between the 5th and 3rd centuries BC, when pottery adopted forms inspired by the ritual tradition of bronze.