The Eskenazi Gallery will showcase an exhibition of 24 works of early Chinese art in London this November.

Highlighting the creative brilliance of Chinese artisans over a 2,500-year period from the late Neolithic era (circa 2000 BC) to the Tang dynasty (618 AD – 907 AD), the exhibition will include a number of fascinating pieces in bronze, gold, silver, jade and bone; all sourced from private collections.

Museum stalwarts
Many of the works on show have also been included in notable museum exhibitions throughout the 20th century, including at the British Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

A highlight of the exhibition is a rare bronze wine vessel (zun) from the early Western Zhou period (11th–10th century BC). This was shown at an exhibition of Chinese art at the Palazzo Ducale in Venice in 1954. The interior of the vessel is cast with a seven-character inscription which reads Ya Qi Yi zuo Mu Xin yi (Ya Qi Yi made this ritual vessel in honour of his mother Xin.).

The majority of pieces in the exhibition are decorated with animals or animal motifs, including dragons, bears, birds and other beasts, both stylized and naturalistic.

Ink painter on show
This autumn, Eskenazi will also hold the first European exhibition dedicated solely to the work of celebrated contemporary Chinese ink painter Zeng Xiaojun (b.1954).

Opening on 5 October, it will then run concurrently with the exhibition of Early Chinese Art until 25 November, coinciding with the 19th Asian Art in London (3 to 12 November), the annual event that unites London’s Asian art dealers, major auction houses and societies in a series of selling exhibitions, auctions, receptions and seminars.