Unknown Artist
- Title
- Ritual bronze vessel, 'zun'
- Other titles:
- Ritual vessel 'zun'
- Place of origin
-
China
- Period
- Western Zhou circa 1100 - 771 BCE → Zhou dynasty circa 1100 - 256 BCE → China
- Year
- 11th century BCE
- Media category
- Metalwork
- Materials used
- bronze
- Dimensions
-
25.0 x 19.8cm
- Credit
- Gift of Mr. Giuseppe Eskenazi 2003
- Accession number
- 253.2003
- Location
- Lower Asian gallery
- Further information
In early script, the character 'zun' is written in the form of two hands holding a wine cup. The shape of the vessel and its pictographic depiction suggest it was used as ritual object for wine. The ‘zun’ was one of the most popular vessel shapes in the Shang and early Zhou periods. The rendering of the ‘taotie’ mask on this vessel exhibits characteristics descended directly from Anyang period motifs of the late Shang dynasty (1318-1046 BCE). The inscription cast in the interior centre reads as ‘fuding’ and indicates that this ‘zun’ was made for the deceased father on the day of ‘ding’.
‘The Asian Collections: Art Gallery of New South Wales’. pg.72
© 2003 Trustees, Art Gallery of New South Wales- Bibliography (1)
-
'Bronzes and Jades', The Asian Collections Art Gallery of New South Wales 2003, 2003, 72 (colour illus.).
