Ritual wine container (zun) with masks (taotie) and dragons

Decorations cast in relief and intaglio; gray patina with areas of green and black; fossae filled with chalcocite. Single character inscription inside foot.

Historical period(s)
late Anyang period, Late Shang dynasty, ca. 1100-1050 BCE
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
H x Diam: 25.4 × 20.4 cm (10 × 8 1/16 in)
Geography
China, probably Henan province, Anyang
Credit Line
Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art
Accession Number
F1955.1
On View Location
Sackler Gallery 23b: Anyang: China's Ancient City of Kings
Classification(s)
Metalwork, Vessel
Type

Ritual vessel: zun

Keywords
animal, Anyang period (ca. 1300 - ca. 1050 BCE), China, inscription, mask, Shang dynasty (ca. 1600 - ca. 1050 BCE)
Provenance
Provenance research underway.
Description

Decorations cast in relief and intaglio; gray patina with areas of green and black; fossae filled with chalcocite. Single character inscription inside foot.

Inscription(s)

Inscribed in the foot, Ge 戈 (“Infantry Officer”)

Published References
  • Shang Chou chin wen shi ch'eng. Multi-volume, Taipei. cat. 4881.
  • Dr. John Alexander Pope, Rutherford John Gettens, James Cahill, Noel Barnard. The Freer Chinese Bronzes. Oriental Studies Series, vol. 1, no. 7 Washington. cat. 12, p. 79.
Collection Area(s)
Chinese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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