COLLECTION NAME:
National Palace English
Record
Work ID:
M01B00045
Title:
Bronze square Gui vessel with Yachou inscription
Creation Date:
Late Shang and Early Zhou Dynasty
Start Year Date:
B.C.1321
End Year Date:
B.C.950
Dynasty:
05 Shang Dynasty (c. 1600 ~1100 B.C.)
Dynasty:
06 Zhou Dynasty (c. 1100 ~ 256 B.C.)
Creation Place:
China
Measurements:
Height: 20.5 cm; Weight: 4920g
Material:
Bronze
Form:
Gui (food container)
Type:
Bronzes
Repository:
The National Palace Museum, Taipei
Description:
This vessel is decorated with popular designs on late Shang and early Zhou bronzes. For example, the neck and the wider side of the foot are decorated with gui dragon motifs. The narrower side of the foot is decorated with animal mask motifs. The high relief is further highlighted by its juxtaposition with the bas-relief of thunder patterns in the background. Such renderings of three-dimensional pattern characterize the popular style of the late Shang both in the technique of representation and selection of designs. It continued to be used in the early Zhou. Inscription transcribed yachou, lies on the bottom of the vessel. The first one is in the shape of ya, the second one might have been yachou jusi taizi zun, and the third one is what appears now as yachou. All three inscriptions might all be authentic, although the assembling purpose and process is still unknown. They all pertain to the yachou clan, therefore it is highly possible that the vessel is made by them. Yachou clan is probably a big clan in the late Shang and early Zhou in Shandong province, and their vessels are continually discovered and excavated in Mount Supu in Yidu city in Shandong province.
ImageV ID:
M01B00045AS003
Rights:
Lee & Lee Communications