Lidded Vessel thumbnail 1
Lidded Vessel thumbnail 2
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
China, Room 44, The T.T. Tsui Gallery

Lidded Vessel

525 BC-475 BC (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This traditional vessel, called a dou in Chinese, was produced between 525-475 BC during the Eastern Zhou period (771-221 BC). Vessels of this sort had been produced since the Neolithic period (5000-1700 BC), but were typically made of ceramic in many regions of China. During the Western Zhou dynasty (1050-771 BC) it became routine to cast these vessels in bronze and use them in various ceremonies and death rituals.

The tiny interlaced snake-like creatures, which decorate many Eastern Zhou bronzes, are used on this example as background to a pattern of small protruding beads distributed symmetrically on the surface. The shape of the vessel, characterised by a hemispherical bowl on a high stem, was extensively reproduced during the Song dynasty (960-1279) when a taste for archaic objects was shared by the imperial court and wealthy élites.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Food Vessel (Dou)
  • Lid
Materials and techniques
Bronze
Brief description
Met, China, vess/cont/holders

Met, China, vess/cont/holders
Physical description
Vessel composed of a hemispherical bowl on a high stem with splayed foot and a lid. The bowl has two ring handles and the lid three. The surface is decorated with small protruding beads on a background of tiny interlaced snake-like creatures.
Dimensions
  • Height: 26cm
Style
Gallery label
Lidded bowl (dou) Eastern Zhou dynasty 525-475 BC This vessel is called a dou, the same word for 'bean'. Historians believe the vessel was a container for beans. Cast bronze Museum no. M.9-1935(2007)
Credit line
Purchased with Art Fund support, the Vallentin Bequest, Sir Percival David and the Universities China Committee
Subject depicted
Summary
This traditional vessel, called a dou in Chinese, was produced between 525-475 BC during the Eastern Zhou period (771-221 BC). Vessels of this sort had been produced since the Neolithic period (5000-1700 BC), but were typically made of ceramic in many regions of China. During the Western Zhou dynasty (1050-771 BC) it became routine to cast these vessels in bronze and use them in various ceremonies and death rituals.

The tiny interlaced snake-like creatures, which decorate many Eastern Zhou bronzes, are used on this example as background to a pattern of small protruding beads distributed symmetrically on the surface. The shape of the vessel, characterised by a hemispherical bowl on a high stem, was extensively reproduced during the Song dynasty (960-1279) when a taste for archaic objects was shared by the imperial court and wealthy élites.
Bibliographic reference
Catalogue of a Collection of objects of Chinese art, London, Private Printing for the Burlington Fine Arts Club, 1915 G.11, pl.XLII
Collection
Accession number
M.9:1, 2-1935

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Record createdDecember 22, 1999
Record URL
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