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Ritual wine vessel (he)
Ritual wine vessel (he)

Ritual wine vessel (he)

Place of OriginChina
Dateapprox. 1300-1050 BCE
DynastyShang dynasty (approx. 1600-1050 BCE)
MaterialsBronze
DimensionsH. 11 in x W. 9 3/4 in x D. 7 1/2 in, H. 27.9 cm x W. 24.8 cm x 19 cm
Credit LineThe Avery Brundage Collection
Object numberB60B78
DepartmentChinese Art
ClassificationsMetal Arts
On View
On view
LocationGallery 14
InscribedThe spout is incised with four rising blades containing nondescript animal shapes and also with a band of barbed spirals. The bow shaped handle is crowned by a bovine head with its ears in full round, while its lower part is incised with geometrical motifs. The same four graph inscription is cast inside the lid and behind the handle (fig. 29). The top two graphs represent an ax over a beheaded man, possibly a clan sign. The remaining two graphs read (Fu Yi or Father Yi, a posthumous name). 1/19/2017 He Li. The three-character inscription cast inside the vessel and lid reads X fu yi 끱父乙.
More Information

How Shang-Dynasty Vessels Were Used

The majority of Shang bronze vessels were used in the preparation and presentation of food and drink in ancestor worship rituals. There were three main categories: vessels for food, vessels for wine, and (in far fewer numbers) vessels for water. The most common food appears to have been a stew or gruel, and food vessels often had bowl-like bodies. The food was removed from the vessel with a ladle. Wine was served warm, and many wine vessels had relatively long legs so they could be placed over a fire. Spouts were also required for pouring the wine into cups. The awkward relationship between the usual three legs and two spouts was one of the challenges for the designers of these vessels. Water was apparently used for ritual cleansing, and most water vessels had relatively flat bottoms and low rims.