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Vase

Vase

  • Place of origin:

    China (made)

  • Date:

    475 BC - 221 BC (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    unknown (production)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Bronze, cast and inlaid with copper and turquoise

  • Credit Line:

    Purchased with the assistance of The Art Fund, the Vallentin Bequest, Sir Percival David and the Universities China Committee

  • Museum number:

    M.7-1935

  • Gallery location:

    China, room 44, case 10

  • Download image

This bronze wine jar is called a 'hu' in Chinese. In ancient China metalworkers made a great variety of food and wine containers in bronze for ritual use. Each vessel had a specific name according to its shape and function. These vessels were buried with the dead. When they were accidentally unearthed centuries later they became treasured objects of antiquarian scholars and collectors.

Physical description

This large jar for wine displays the flamboyant and intricate style of decoration which reached its height during the late Zhou dynasty.

Place of Origin

China (made)

Date

475 BC - 221 BC (made)

Artist/maker

unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

Bronze, cast and inlaid with copper and turquoise

Dimensions

Height: 36 cm, Diameter: 15 cm Base only, Diameter: 24 cm Maximum diameter at widest point

Descriptive line

Bronze hu vessel, China, Eastern Zhou dynasty, 475-221 BC

Exhibition History

Chinese art (Burlington Fine Arts Club 01/01/1915-31/12/1915)

Labels and date

Wine vessel (hu)
Eastern Zhou dynasty
475-221 BC

Cast bronze with copper and turquoise inlays

Museum no. M.7-1935 [2007]

Categories

Containers

Collection code

EAS

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Qr_O12700
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