Covered Wine Vessel (you) with Swing Handle and Design of Zoomorphic Masks, Kui-Dragons, and Spiral Patterns

Culture: Chinese
Dynasty: Shang dynasty, c.1600–c.1046 BCE
Date: 12th century BCE
Material: Bronze
from: China, Asia
Classification: Containers, metalwork
Collection: Asian Art
Current Location: On View, Gallery 233
Dimensions: height with handle raised: 8 1/4 in. (20.9 cm)
height with cover in place: 7 1/2 in. (19.1 cm)
width of mouth: 3 3/4 in. (9.5 cm)
depth of mouth: 2 15/16 in. (7.5 cm)
width of body: 6 1/2 in. (16.5 cm)
depth of body: 5 1/4 in. (13.3 cm)
depth across animal-headed handles: 5 1/2 in. (14 cm)
height of cover: 2 3/8 in. (6 cm)
width of cover: 4 in. (10.2 cm)
depth of cover: 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm)
weight (vessel and cover): 3 lb. 9.6 oz. (1.6 kg)
weight (vessel only): 3 lb. (1.4 kg)
weight (cover only): 9.6 oz. (0.3 kg)
Credit Line: Gift of Mrs. Charles Kunkel in memory of her brother, Dr. J. William Beckmann
Rights: Public Domain
Object Number: 576:1957a,b

NOTES

The ample body of this wine container rises from a hollow base. The narrow mouth fits neatly within the domed cover. The cover is surmounted by a vertically grooved finial and ornamented with four flanges, which divide the top into quadrants, as well as zoomorphic masks (taotie) and running, one-legged kui-dragons. The swing handle is ornamented with horned animal-head terminations. The vessel has low-relief taotie designs on both sides, above which is a band of running kui-dragons. Vertical flanges run down four sides of the vessel. The metal of the body is very bright and brassy in some of the exposed areas, whereas in other areas there is more patina.

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