Mar 27, 2009
Mar 27, 2009
Mar 27, 2009
Mar 27, 2009
Sep 30, 2009
Sep 30, 2009
Sep 30, 2009
Sep 30, 2009

Square Wine Container (Fangyou)

Square Wine Container (Fangyou)

c. 1250–1046 BCE

Bronze

Overall: 26.7 x 13.4 cm (10 1/2 x 5 1/4 in.)

John L. Severance Fund 1963.103

Did you know?

The bird motif decoration of this bronze is uncommon; more often these bronzes are decorated with a combination of birds and dragons.

Description

From the finely proportioned body to the elaborate decoration cast with great precision, this ritual wine vessel displays the artistic refinement and technical virtuosity that marked the full blossoming of late Shang bronze art. The dramatic contrast of the crested birds (kuifeng) against the dense background of spiral patterns (leiwen) gives the vessel a new force, clarity, and intense vitality. The distinctive square body also places it as a rare and important type among the more usual round or ovoid types.

See also
Department: 
Chinese Art
Type of artwork: 
Metalwork
Medium: 
Bronze

Contact us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email [email protected].

To request more information about this object, study images, or bibliography, contact the Ingalls Library Reference Desk.

All images and data available through Open Access can be downloaded for free. For images not available through Open Access, a detail image, or any image with a color bar, request a digital file from Image Services.