Food Vessel thumbnail 1
Food Vessel thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

Food Vessel

11th century BC (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This vessel was a container for grain. Metalworkers in ancient China 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. They became treasured objects of antiquarian scholars and collectors when they were accidentally unearthed centuries later.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Cast bronze
Brief description
Met, China, RITUAL OBJECTS MISC
Physical description
This vessel was a container for grain. In ancient China a great variety of food and wine containers were made in bronze for ritual use. Each vessel was given a specific name according to its shape and function. The vessels were buried with the deceased. When they were accidently unearthed centuries later they became treasured objects of antiquarian scholars and collectors.
Dimensions
  • Height: 14.6cm
Style
Credit line
Hildburgh Gift
Summary
This vessel was a container for grain. Metalworkers in ancient China 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. They became treasured objects of antiquarian scholars and collectors when they were accidentally unearthed centuries later.
Collection
Accession number
M.136-1956

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Record createdDecember 19, 2002
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest