Ritual Wine Vessel

Currently not on view

Ritual Wine Vessel

c. 1100 BCE

Artist/maker unknown, Chinese

The decorative motif on the broad sides of this vessel is an abstracted face, called a taotie. Common on Shang ritual bronzes, the taotie resembles an animal or monster with horns, claws, and eyes and is shown here emerging from a dense background pattern of squared spirals, known as leiwen.

Currently not on view

Object Details

Title:

Ritual Wine Vessel

Date:

c. 1100 BCE

Artist:

Artist/maker unknown, Chinese

Medium:

Bronze

Dimensions:

4 5/8 × 3 1/16 inches (11.7 × 7.7 cm)

Classification:

Containers

Credit Line:

Bequest of Henry B. Keep, 1983

Accession Number:

1983-83-2a,b

Geography:

Made in China, Asia

Context:

Dynasty: Shang Dynasty (c. 1600-1050 BCE)

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Currently not on view