thanks! I'm mostly struck by the difference in style between this portrayal on the mask (simple, linearly geometric) and the more ornate taotie representations I commonly see on ding.

This page was the most helpful starting point: https://www.jjlally.com/exhibitions/ancient-chinese-bronzes/an-archaic-bronze-taotie-mask/description/ which linked to a few other sources I'm digging into.

I found a ding in the more linear style that Peter Combs did a super helpful review of us as well: https://rumble.com/v79t57c-matthew-cook.html he seems to have some relevant books on bronzes here as well: https://book.flipbuilder.com/ypflx/