Artwork Page for Food Container (Gui)

Details / Information for Food Container (Gui)

Food Container (Gui)

龍耳簋

600–500 BCE

China, Eastern Zhou dynasty (770–256 BCE), Spring and Autumn period

(770–476 BCE)
Medium
bronze
Measurements
Overall: 34.3 x 44.5 cm (13 1/2 x 17 1/2 in.)
Credit Line
Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund 1974.73
Public Domain
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Location
241A Arts of Ancient China
Print
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Did You Know?

This ritual food vessel likely held grain like rice, millet, or corn in rites for worshipping the ancestors.

Description

Openwork and sculptural designs elaborately transform the silhouette of this gui, a ritual food vessel with a square pedestal. The design exudes motion, exuberance, and baroque characters to a stately vessel form. Lotus-petal openwork encircles the cover, reinforcing the linear rhythms of the undulating wave patterns on the body. Two lively dragons, with eyes and mouth wide open and tongue straight out, are accompanied by two felines to form the arched handles.
A muted green and brown bronze vessel sits on a square base. Intricate, raised geometric patterns interlock across its rounded body and dome-shaped lid. Two large, S-shaped handles feature horned, animal-like creatures with open mouths. Atop the lid is a crown of flared, open-work metal petals. Light catches the weathered surface, highlighting the rhythmic depth of the ornate carvings and aged metal across the heavy, ancient form.

Food Container (Gui)

600–500 BCE

China, Eastern Zhou dynasty (770–256 BCE), Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BCE)

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