About this artwork
As this monumental cauldron demonstrates, the most distinctive bronze vessels of early China represent important historical documents as well as stunningly powerful works of art. Designed to contain offerings of meat in ritual ceremonies, this vessel was cast with a lengthy inscription on its interior bowl. The text commemorates a solemn ritual ceremony at the imperial court of the Zhou, the second dynasty recorded in Chinese texts, and explains that Captain Wang, a noble official who had been rewarded for his loyal service to the Zhou king, commissioned this vessel to honor his deceased father and record the occasion for succeeding generations. Together with the inscription, the vessel’s shallow profile and austere surface decor date it to the early ninth century BC. Although the monsterlike masks that project from each leg display animal imagery common on older bronzes, the two registers of hooked, ribbonlike bands that encircle the bowl preserve only traces of early dragon or bird patterns. The transition from zoomorphic to abstract surface designs marks a significant turning point in the art of early Chinese bronzes. Recent archaeological discoveries of similar bronze vessels in China indicate that this cauldron was most likely buried as part of a large hoard.
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Status
- On View, Gallery 131
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Department
- Arts of Asia
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Title
- Cauldron
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Place
- China (Object made in)
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Date
- Made 1050 BCE–771 BCE
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Medium
- Bronze
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Inscriptions
- Inside of the cauldron, Shi Wang Ding ( 師朢鼎 )： 大師小子師朢曰：不(_丕)_顯皇 考劺公，穆穆克盟氒心、伳(_哲) 氒德，用辟于先王，势(_得)_屯(_純) 亡敃。朢肈(_肇)_帥井(_型)_皇考，虔 攵(_夙)_夜出内(_入)_王命，不敢不 壐(_遂)_不壑。王用弗俶(_忘)_聖人 之後，多蔑曆易(_賜)_休。朢敢 對剣(_揚)_天子不(_丕)_顯魯休，用 乍(_作)_朕皇考劺公丬(_尊)_鼎。師 朢侔(_其)_萬年子子孫孫永寶用。 Translation: The Grand Captain's young son Captain Wang says: "Illustriously august deceased-father Duke Jiu was beautifully capable of making accordant his heart and making wise his virtue, with which he served the past kings, and gained purity without flaw. Wang for the first time has gone on to emulate his august deceased-father, respectfully morning and night taking out and bringing in the king's commands, not daring not to follow through or to manage. Because of this, the king has not forgotten the sagely man's descendant, and has greatly praised his accomplishments and awarded him beneficence. Wang dares in response to extol the Son of Heaven's illustriously fine beneficence, herewith making for my august deceased-father Duke Jiu this offertory caldron; may Captain Wang for ten-thousand
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Dimensions
- 49 × 43 cm (19 3/8 × 16 15/16 in.)
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Credit Line
- Major Acquisitions Centennial Fund
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Reference Number
- 2005.426
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IIIF Manifest
- https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/185963/manifest.json
Extended information about this artwork
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.
