Wine Vessel (Hu) (lid)

壺

c. 1000–900 BCE

China, Western Zhou dynasty

(c. 1046–771 BCE)

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Medium

bronze

Measurements

Overall: 46.1 cm (18 1/8 in.); without cover: 41.7 cm (16 7/16 in.)

Credit Line

Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1944.61.b

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Location

241A Arts of Ancient China

Did You Know?

When inverted, the cover forms a cup.

Description

This tall, slender bronze wine vessel, called a hu, has three bands of ornamentation: one above the foot, one around the neck, and one on the cover. Stylized birds or phoenixes are in the band around the neck, while the band on the cover and foot feature geometric dragons. The dragon and the phoenix may represent the Yin and Yang and would be equally appropriate on a bronze of either secular or religious purposes. It likely held liquids like wine at festive banquets or religious ceremonies.