On display

Pouring Vessel

450 BC-250 BC (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This bronze pouring vessel is called a 'yi' in Chinese. In ancient China metalworkers made a great variety of bronze vessels for ritual use. Each vessel had a specific name according to its shape and function. A yi would have been used with a basin, in a cleansing ceremony.

Object details

Category
Object type
Materials and techniques
Bronze, cast
Brief description
Bronze pouring vessel yi, China, Eastern Zhou period, ca. 450-250 BC
Style
Gallery label
(2007)
Pouring vessel (yi)
Eastern Zhou dynasty
450-250 BC

This pouring vessel would have been used with a basin, in a cleansing ceremony.

Cast bronze

Museum no. M.552-1911
Object history
Purchased from Mr. J. S. T. Audley (1 Berkeley Square, W.), accessioned in 1911. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.
Summary
This bronze pouring vessel is called a 'yi' in Chinese. In ancient China metalworkers made a great variety of bronze vessels for ritual use. Each vessel had a specific name according to its shape and function. A yi would have been used with a basin, in a cleansing ceremony.
Collection
Accession number
M.552-1911

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Record createdApril 2, 2008
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest