Ritual wine container (zun) with masks and dragons

Decoration cast in low relief and incised. Green patination.

Historical period(s)
Middle Western Zhou dynasty, ca. 10th century BCE
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
H x Diam: 27.5 × 24.7 cm (10 13/16 × 9 3/4 in)
Geography
China
Credit Line
Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art
Accession Number
F1954.122
On View Location
Freer Gallery 18: Art and Industry: China's Ancient Houma Foundry
Classification(s)
Metalwork, Vessel
Type

Ritual vessel: zun

Keywords
animal, China, inscription, mask, Western Zhou dynasty (ca. 1050 - 771 BCE), wine
Provenance
Provenance research underway.
Description

Decoration cast in low relief and incised. Green patination.

Inscription(s)

An inscription of 14 characters inside bottom.

Published References
  • Sun Chuang. Cheng-ch'iu-kuan chi-chin t'u [Illustrations of the Sacrificial Bronzes in the Cheng-ch'iu-kuan Hall]. ch. 27.
  • Liu T'i-chih. Hsiao chiao ching ko chin wen tzu [Epigraphy on Metal and Stone from the Hsiao-chiao ching-ko]. N.p. .
  • Chin wen tsung chi. Taipei. vol. 8: p. 3595.
  • Jessica Rawson. Western Zhou Ritual Bronzes from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections. Ancient Chinese Bronzes from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, vol. 2 Washington and Cambridge, Massachusetts. vol. 2a, p. 89, fig. 131.
  • Wu Shih-fen. Chun ku lu chin wen [Study on Inscriptions on Bronzes]. p. 46.
  • Ch'en Jen-t'ao. Chin Kuei lun ku ch'u chi [Essays on Chinese Antiquities in the Chin Kuei Collection with Explanations]. Hong Kong. pp. 166-167.
  • Dr. John Alexander Pope, Rutherford John Gettens, James Cahill, Noel Barnard. The Freer Chinese Bronzes. Oriental Studies Series, vol. 1, no. 7 Washington. cat. 74, p. 407.
Collection Area(s)
Chinese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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