拍賣筆記 vol.348 佳士得紐約2026：53.34萬美元售出，西周中期青銅「仲枏父」鬲 - Christie’s NY 2026, The Zhong Nan Fu Lian Important Documentary Bronze Ritual Tripod Food Vessel, Li, Sold for US$533,400

對資深收藏家而言，一件西周青銅器的價值，往往「七分看銘文，三分看器形」。這件仲枏父鬲的銘文不僅字數適中、內容豐富，還提供了西周中期行政、禮儀與家族文化的「微型檔案」，學術意義突出，稀有度高，因此能拍出遠高於普通西周鬲的價格，是一塊可供學者持續研究的「歷史拼圖」。

銘文開頭點出「師湯父有司」（師湯父負責監督），這是西周中期青銅器中少見的「有司」制度體現。師湯父並非普通工匠，而是王朝中負責軍事、司法或禮儀事務的高級官員，他的介入，顯示這件鬲的鑄造得到官方層面的監督，甚至可能與王室或宮廷（銘文中提及的「周新宮」相關脈絡）有關。這為研究西周中期的官僚運作、禮儀制度與王權控制，提供了珍貴的一手文獻。

銘文清楚交代器主仲枏父的動機：向「皇祖考」（偉大的祖先）獻孝，並祈求「眉壽」（長壽）。這種「饗孝」與「祈壽」的結合，是西周禮樂文明的核心，反映當時貴族對祖先崇拜與家族延續的重視。類似完整敘事的銘文，在鬲類器物中並不多見。

仲枏父名下的青銅器已知至少有九件鬲、兩件簋、一件匕和一件甗，形成一個相對連貫的小型「器群」。其中部分已入藏陝西歷史博物館、上海博物館等機構。這件鬲的出現，豐富了該系列的學術拼圖，讓收藏家能「成組」理解西周某個貴族家族的禮器系統，其稀有性和學術連貫性大幅提升價值。

銘文中的人名（師湯父）與其他已知青銅器（如故宮博物院藏鼎、陝西扶風齊家村出土鼎）相互印證，可精準定位於周恭王時期左右。這類帶有明確人物、時間和禮儀背景的「有銘」青銅器，在市場上遠比素面或僅有族徽的器物珍貴許多。

首陽齋珍藏高古中國青銅器

西周中期 公元前十一世紀晚期至十世紀晚期

青銅「仲枏父」鬲

MID-WESTERN ZHOU DYNASTY, LATE 11TH-LATE 10TH CENTURY BC

估價

美元 150,000 – 美元 250,000

售出：533,400美元

銘文：

唯六月初吉

師湯父有司

仲枏父作寶

鬲用敢饗孝于

皇祖考用祈

眉壽其萬年

子子孫孫其永寶用

7 ¾ in. (19.7 cm.) diam., cloth box

來源

購於香港，1998年

首陽齋，紐約

出版

周亞，馬今洪，胡嘉麟編，《首陽吉金：胡盈瑩、范季融藏中國古代青銅器》，上海，2008年，頁96-7，編號32

《首陽吉金：胡盈瑩、范季融藏中國古代青銅器》，寧波，2009年，頁22

吳鎮峰，《商周青銅器銘文暨圖像集成》，卷六，上海，2012年，頁485，編號03034

羅新慧，《首陽吉金疏證》，上海，2016年，頁64-9，編號14

張天恩主編，《陝西金文集成》，西安，2016年，卷9，頁176-8，編號1070

展覽

「首陽吉金：胡盈瑩、范季融藏中國古代青銅器」，2008年10月至2011年1月巡展於上海，上海博物館；香港，香港中文大學文物館；寧波， 寧波博物館；芝加哥，芝加哥藝術博物館，編號32

此鬲口沿至內壁鑄銘七行，共三十九字，曰：「隹（唯）六月初吉，師湯父有X（司），中（仲）枏父乍（作）寶鬲，用敢X（饗）考（孝）于皇自（祖）丂（考），用X（祈）眉壽其萬年，子子孫孫其永寶用。」其意謂：六月吉日，師湯父以屬吏監理其事；仲枏父鑄作此寶鬲，以孝享祖先及先考，並祈長壽；復願其器世守萬年，子孫永寶而用。銘文次第井然：師湯父主監臨，仲枏父執鑄作，鬲供薦享祈壽之用。末句「其萬年」、「其永寶用」，皆西周銘辭習見，旨在彰顯其澤可垂久遠，延及後嗣。

銘稱「師湯父」之「師」為官職，西周金文中屢見，且位秩尤重。「師」或統率軍旅，近侍王命，得奉命巡行，宣達王令，兼掌冊命、禮儀、刑獄、人事，並總攝內政、軍旅及教化諸務。學界通論，「師某」之稱，盛行於商、西周金文，至東周驟稀。今銘言「師湯父有司」，明示本器鑄作，係在其權責監督之下，由屬吏具體承辦師湯父之名，亦見於台北故宮博物院藏「師湯父鼎」。銘首敘朝廷情境曰：「王在周新宮，在射盧，王呼宰應易盛弓……師湯父拜稽首，作朕文考毛叔將彝。」又陝西扶風法門鎮齊家村一號墓出土一鼎，銘曰：「師湯［父］作旅鼎，子孫其萬年永寶用。」諸銘所涉師湯父，究為一人，抑或同名歷官，尚待詳考。

「有司」為官府之屬吏，蓋掌事之官屬，「司」其事而理其務。金文多用以銜接官署與行事，表示官事相承。本銘言「師湯父有司」，正承師湯父之官權，啟仲枏父之鑄作。

仲枏父為此鬲之鑄者。其名署於數器，脈絡可稽，多出土於陝西。今可考者，約有九鬲、二簋、一匕，皆署仲枏父名，分藏西安市文物管理委員會、武功縣文化館、陝西歷史博物館及上海博物館。北宋《考古圖》亦載「仲枏父甗」，題曰「仲信父方旅甗」），傳出自乾州好疇。

就形制與紋飾而論，此鬲當屬西周中期。其器身與足形，以及紋飾，皆與西周中期相符。其斷代亦得銘辭史語為證。齊家村所出「師湯父鼎」，銘載「王在周新宮」、「在射盧」等語，此亦見於上海博物館藏「趞曹鼎」銘文「十又五年五月……恭王在周新宮，旦，王射于射盧」。二器並舉周新宮、射盧，學者多認為師湯父諸器可定在恭王時期。

綜觀全銘，其旨在以官府監臨之制，貫通家族祭祀之意。仲枏父以師湯父之有司而行其事；鬲之用途，在於孝享祖先與先考，並祈眉壽。官制之辭、宗族孝義與典型銘辭文體，使此鬲成為西周中期王政、祖祀相互交織之明證。

Early Chinese Bronzes from the Shouyang Studio

THE ZHONG NAN FU LIAN IMPORTANT DOCUMENTARY BRONZE RITUAL TRIPOD FOOD VESSEL, LI

MID-WESTERN ZHOU DYNASTY, LATE 11TH-LATE 10TH CENTURY BC

Price realised

USD 533,400

Estimate

USD 150,000 – USD 250,000

Estimates do not reflect the final hammer price and do not include buyer's premium, and applicable taxes or artist's resale right. Please see Section D of the Conditions of Sale for full details.

Closed: 27 Mar 2026

One side of the rim and the interior of the vessel is cast with a 39-character inscription which may be translated as 'On the first auspicious day of the sixth month, the respected official Shi Tangfu oversaw the work; Zhong Nanfu commissioned this precious li vessel to make offerings in filial honor to the ancestors and to his grand great ancestor, and to pray for long life. [May it] endure for ten thousand years; [may his] descendants treasure and use it forever.'

7 ¾ in. (19.7 cm.) diam., cloth box

PROVENANCE

Acquired in Hong Kong in 1998.

The Shouyang Studio, New York.

LITERATURE

Zhou Ya, Ma Jinhong, and Hu Jialin ed., Ancient Chinese Bronzes from the Shouyang Studio: The Katherine and George Fan Collection, Shanghai, 2008, pp. 96-7, no. 32.

Ancient Chinese Bronzes from the Shouyang Studio: The Katherine and George Fan Collection, Ningbo, 2009, p. 22.

Wu Zhenfeng, Shangzhou qingtongqi mingwen ji tuxiang jicheng (Compendium of Inscriptions and Images of Bronzes from the Shang and Zhou Dynasties), vol. 6, Shanghai, 2012, p. 485, no. 03034.

Luo Xinhui, Shouyang Jijin Shuzheng (Textual Research of Inscriptions from Bronze Collection of The Shouyang Studio), Shanghai, 2016, pp. 64-9, no. 14.

Zhang Tianen, ed., Shanxi jinwen jicheng (Compendium of Bronze Inscriptions from the Shanxi Province), Xi'an, 2016, vol. 9, pp. 176-8, no. 1070.

EXHIBITED

Ancient Chinese Bronzes from the Shouyang Studio: The Katherine and George Fan Collection, October 2008 - January 2011: Shanghai, Shanghai Museum; Hong Kong, Art Gallery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong; Ningbo, Ningbo Museum; Chicago, Art Institute of Chicago, no. 32.

The present li bears a 39-character inscription cast in seven vertical columns along the rim and extending to the interior. It reads '唯六月初吉，師湯父有司，仲枏父作寶鬲，用敢饗孝于皇祖考用祈眉壽其萬年，子子孫孫其永寶用', which may be translated as: 'On the first auspicious day of the sixth month, the respected official Shi Tangfu oversaw the work; Zhong Nanfu commissioned this precious li vessel to make offerings in filial honor to the ancestors and to his grand great ancestor, and to pray for long life. [May it] endure for ten thousand years; [may his] descendants treasure and use it forever.' The sequence of subjects and offices is explicit: the authoritative official Shi Tangfu supervised Zhong Nanfu, the named maker and commissioner of the li, the ritual vessel, which was cast for use in ancestral sacrifice and petitions for longevity. The closing formulae—'may it endure for ten thousand years' and 'may sons and grandsons treasure and use it'—are conventional Western Zhou wishes of perpetuity that project the efficacy of the offering across generations.

The name Shi Tangfu identifies an official whose title, shi, is among the most common and consequential offices cited in Western Zhou inscriptions. The shi could serve as a senior military commander close to the king that could accompany and transmit royal orders on royal progresses, perform roles in courtly investiture and ritual, function in judicial and personnel capacities as well as oversee household, banner, and even educational functions. Current scholars have observed that epigraphic occurrences of 'Shi X' are often recorded in Shang and Western Zhou bronzes but diminished sharply in the Eastern Zhou. The name Shi Tangfu also appears in the inscription of a Shi Tangfu ding currently in the Palace Museum, Taipei. (Fig. 1) The inscription on the Taipei ding opens with a court setting—'The king was at the New Palace of the Zhou dynasty, at Shelu; the king called the steward to prepare the bow… Shi Tangfu bowed, knocking his head to the ground, and made a sacrificial vessel for the cultured father Mao Shu.' His name appears again on a ding excavated in 1991 from Tomb 1 at Qijia Village, Famen Town, Fufeng County, Shaanxi, the inscription on which reads, 'Shi Tang[fu] made a ding for travels; may sons and grandsons treasure and use it for ten thousand years.' Whether these references denote the same individual or a succession of office-holders bearing an identical name continues to be a scholarly investigation.

The administrative noun yousi, interpreted here as 'functionary' or 'subordinate,' is a collective designation for subordinate officials charged with 'holding' or 'managing' an affair. In documented ritual texts and their later commentaries, si is defined as 'to preside over,' 'to be responsible for,' or 'to coordinate.' In bronze inscriptions the term frequently marks the presence of the bureaucratic link between an office and an act: the yousi of a senior officer certifies, witnesses, or supervises a commission, gift, or ritual performance. In this inscription, the yousi serves as the formal bridge between the authority of Shi Tangfu and the practical agency of the donor-maker, Zhong Nanfu.

Zhong Nanfu, who commissioned the current li vessel, is known from a small but coherent group of vessels found in the Shan’xi region. At least nine li, two gui, and one bi (knife) connected with the name Zhong Nanfu are recorded, with examples in the Xi’an Municipal Cultural Relics Management Committee, the Wugong County Cultural Center, the Shaanxi History Museum, and the Shanghai Museum. (Fig. 2) A Zhong Nanfu yan is recorded in Nothern Song-period Kaogu Tu (Illustrated Antiques) and is described as 'Zhong Xinfu square travel yan,' and is reported as bring from Haochou near Qianzhou.

Typologically and stylistically, the present li conforms to mid–Western Zhou period. The shape of the body and legs as well as the decorations align with examples dated to the mid-Western Zhou period. This stylistic placement is also supported by the historical vocabulary embedded in related inscriptions. The Qijia Village Shi Tangfu ding, on typological grounds also mid-Western Zhou, contains the phrases 'the king was at the New Palace of Zhou' and 'at Shelu' which also appear in the inscription of the Que Cao ding in the Shanghai Museum—'On the fifth month of the fifteenth year…King Gong at the New Palace of Zhou dynasty; at dawn, the king shot at Shelu.' That both bronzes cite the Zhou New Palace at Shelu has led scholars to agree that the Shi Tangfu bronzes can be dated to the reign of King Gong.

Read as a whole, the inscription interlocks an administrative chain of oversight with an explicit familial purpose. Zhong Nanfu, as the yousi of Shi Tangfu, enacts the commission; the li’s purpose is for filial offerings to the ancestors and the late father, and to pray for long life. The combination of bureaucratic vocabulary, lineage piety, and formal style makes this li a particularly clear document of how royal administration and ancestral practice were braided together in the mid-Western Zhou era.