Beaker

Shang dynasty ( about 1600–1050 BC )

China

This elegantly dignified vessel displays the taut, slender profile and crisply cast surface decoration that distinguishes the finest bronzes made for late Shang royalty. Long tapered blades above a band of serpents encircle the wide, trumpet-mouthed neck. Monster masks (taotie) with angular horns surround the middle section. All motifs are organized in clearly defined quadrants, which are divided by striated flanges and reserved against a background of finely squared spirals.

Status: On View, Gallery 131
Department: Arts of Asia

Title: Beaker
Place: China (Artist's nationality:)
Date Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.: Made 1600 BCE–1050 BCE
Medium: Bronze
Dimensions: 31.2 × 17.5 cm (12 1/4 × 6 7/8 in.); Diam.: 17.5 cm (6 7/8 in.)
Credit Line: Lucy Maud Buckingham Collection
Reference Number: 1937.2
IIIF Manifest The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world. Learn more.: https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/109223/manifest.json

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Department

Title

Place

Date Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

Medium

Dimensions

Credit Line

Reference Number

IIIF Manifest The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world. Learn more.

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IIIF Manifest The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world.

Learn more.