Title
Square 'ding' cauldron with mythical creatures
circa 12th century BCE
Artists
Unknown Artist
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Details
- Other Title
- Rectangular cauldron 'fang ding'
- Place where the work was made
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China
- Period
- Shang dynasty circa 1600 - 1100 BCE → China
- Date
- circa 12th century BCE
- Media category
- Metalwork
- Materials used
- bronze
- Dimensions
- 21.0 x 17.3 x 14.0 cm
- Signature & date
Not signed. Not dated.
- Credit
- Bequest of Kenneth Myer 1993
- Location
- Not on display
- Accession number
- 573.1993
- Copyright
- Share
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About
Above the main motif of 'taotie' masks on this ritual object is a register of twelve animals, each with one foot, a hooked beak and upwardly curled tail. This mythical creature is traditionally referred to as a 'Kui dragon', a name adopted by connoisseurs of the Song dynasty (960-1279 AD). Some scholars, have suggested abandoning this usage according to Confucius's description of the Kui as a virtuous and worthy master of music. Dragons were believed to have the ability of assisting shamans to connect heaven and earth during ritual ceremonies in ancient China.
Asian Art Department, AGNSW, January 2012
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Places
Where the work was made
China
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Exhibition history
Shown in 3 exhibitions
Great gifts, great patrons, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 17 Aug 1994–19 Oct 1994
Dragon (2012), Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 18 Jan 2012–06 May 2012
The Way We Eat, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 03 Apr 2021–13 Jun 2022
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Bibliography
Referenced in 2 publications
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Jackie Menzies (Editor), The Asian Collections Art Gallery of New South Wales, 'Bronzes and Jades', Sydney, 2003, 70 (colour illus.).
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Jackie Menzies, AGNSW Collections, 'Asian Art - India, South-East Asia, China, Tibet, Korea, Japan', pg. 173-228, Sydney, 1994, 188 (colour illus.).
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