Ritual wine container with lid (you)

Ceremonial vessel, type “yu,” with cover. Wood stand.
Surface: green patina over gold bronze.
Decoration: in low relief and delicate linear relief. Inscription inside.

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Historical period(s)
Western Zhou dynasty, ca. late 11th century-early 10th century BCE
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
H x W x D (overall): 32.4 x 25.3 x 16.9 cm (12 3/4 x 9 15/16 x 6 5/8 in)
Geography
China
Credit Line
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Accession Number
F1911.36a-b
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Metalwork, Vessel
Type

Ritual vessel: you

Keywords
China, inscription, Western Zhou dynasty (ca. 1050 - 771 BCE), wine
Provenance

To 1911
Yung Pai Chai, China, to 1911 [1]

From 1911 to 1919
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Yung Pai Chai, China, in 1911 [2]

From 1920
Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]

Notes:

[1] See Original Bronze List, S.I. 191, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.

[2] See note 1.

[3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Yung Pai Chai (C.L. Freer source)
Charles Lang Freer 1854-1919

Description

Ceremonial vessel, type "yu," with cover. Wood stand.
Surface: green patina over gold bronze.
Decoration: in low relief and delicate linear relief. Inscription inside.

Inscription(s)

3-character inscription.

"Translation reads: 'Nos. 1 and 2) mean Father Kuci [Chn], as a commonly found on the bronzes at that period. No. 3 is a figure of a fish. We find that on other bronzes there are figures of eagles, and other animals, with the words, Father K'ai or Ye.' Attributed to Chan. (S.Tang)"
(See Curatorial Remark number 4)

Published References
  • Chin wen tsung chi. Taipei. vol. 6: p. 2550.
  • Shang Chou chin wen shi ch'eng. Multi-volume, Taipei. cats. 5041, 5745.
  • Dr. John Alexander Pope, Rutherford John Gettens, James Cahill, Noel Barnard. The Freer Chinese Bronzes. Oriental Studies Series, vol. 1, no. 7 Washington. cat. 56, p. 315.
Collection Area(s)
Chinese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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