Western Zhou dynasty ( 1046–771 BC ), late 11th century BC
Artist:
China
About this artwork
The bulging, curvilinear silhouette of this house-shaped wine container is emphasized by prominent, hooked flanges, which also accent the surface divisions created by sectional mold casting. The elements of surface decoration—high relief monster (taotie) masks, crested and plumed birds, and dragons with reverted heads are extravagantly shaped: Fringes with elaborate hooks and quills, their curves and coils extend and replicate to symmetrically fill the divided panels of the body and lid.
Identical dedicatory inscriptions cast within the interior of the base and lid read: “Rong zi [Son of Rong] made [this] precious sacrificial vessel.” Such inscriptions, studied as historical documents as well as calligraphic art, contribute to our understanding of the chronology and patronage of ancient Chinese bronzes.
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.
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.
London Royal Academy of Arts, Catalogue of the International Exhibition of Chinese Art, 3rd ed., 1935–36, 23, pl. 5, no. 247.
Charles Fabens Kelley and Ch’en Meng-chia, Chinese Bronzes from the Buckingham Collection (Art Institute of Chicago, 1946), 50–53, 151, pls. XXIV–XXVI.
Matsumaru Michio, In Shu seidoki bunrui zuroku: A Corpus of Chinese Bronzes in American Collections (Tokyo: Kyoku Shuin, 1977), 123, 223/R.332, 918–19.
Minao Hayashi, In Shu jidai seidoki no kenkyu [Conspectus of Yin and Zhou Bronzes], vol. I, part 1 (Tokyo: Yoshikawa Kobunkan, 1984), 36, fig. 59.
Chicago Bijutsukan Meihenten: Masterpieces of Chinese Arts from the Art Institute of Chicago, exh. cat. (Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka; also exhibited at MOA Museum of Art, Atami; Idemitsu Museum of Art, Tokyo, 1989), cat. 5.
Elinor Pearlstein and James T. Ulak, Asian Art in the Art Institute of Chicago (Art Institute of Chicago and Harry N. Abrams, 1993), 20, 21.
Osaka, Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Chicago Bijutsukan Meihinten: Masterpieces of Chinese Arts from the Art Institute of Chicago, 1989, cat. 5; Atami, MOA Museum of Art; Tokyo, Idemitsu Museum of Art.
London, Burlington House, International Exhibition of Chinese Art, 1935–36, cat. 247.
Ching Tsai Loo (1880‒1957), Paris and New York; sold to Kate Sturges Buckingham (1858–1937), Chicago [Kate served as executor of her sister Lucy Maud Buckingham’s estate and continued expanding Lucy’s collection following her death in 1920]; given to the Art Institute of Chicago, 1932.
Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.
