Bronze Vessel (Ding) thumbnail 1
Bronze Vessel (Ding) thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

Bronze Vessel (Ding)

1100 BC -1000 BC (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
China (made)

In ancient China all bronze ritual vessels had a specific name. This tripod is called a 'ding'.
A ding was a ritual vessel used in ancient China to contain food during rites for the ancestors. These vessels became a collector’s item because of inscriptions cast on their surfaces, in scripts that were no longer in daily use.


Object details

Category
Ceremonial Objects
Object type
Bronze vessel (ding)
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Tripod (Ding)
  • Stand
Materials and techniques
Bronze, cast
Brief description
Met, China, vess/cont/holders

Met, China, vess/cont/holders
Physical description
A tripod with some designs on the exterior of the pot.
Dimensions
  • Height: 20.7cm
Style
Shang-Zhou Dynasties
Subjects depicted
紋飾
饕餮
Summary
In ancient China all bronze ritual vessels had a specific name. This tripod is called a 'ding'.
A ding was a ritual vessel used in ancient China to contain food during rites for the ancestors. These vessels became a collector’s item because of inscriptions cast on their surfaces, in scripts that were no longer in daily use.
Collection
East Asia Collection
Accession number
M.2696-1931

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Record createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O14498/bronze-vessel-ding-unknown/
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