COLLECTION NAME:
National Palace English
Record
Work ID:
M01B00064
Title:
Bronze Zun vessel with bird head and beast body
Creation Date:
Late Spring and Autumn to Early Warring States Period
Start Year Date:
B.C.570
End Year Date:
B.C.400
Dynasty:
09 Spring Autumn Period (770~481 B.C)
Dynasty:
10 Warring States Period (481~221 B.C)
Creation Place:
China
Measurements:
Height: 20 cm; Weight: 1810g
Material:
Bronze
Form:
Zun (wine vessel)
Type:
Bronzes
Subject:
Birds
Repository:
The National Palace Museum, Taipei
Description:
At first glance, the zun looks like the bronze sculpture of a squatting creature with a bird head and an animal body. With closer analysis, we will discover that the bird head is actually moveable. The creature's body and its bird head each has a circular opening that is made for easy assemblage. Once the bird head is removed, other contents can be placed into the animal body. The S-shaped vessel is more suitable for holding liquid. The beak of the bird also opens, so that liquid can be slowly poured in. This synthesis of function and style is a typical approach in Shang animal-shaped zun.
ImageV ID:
M01B00064AS002
Rights:
Lee & Lee Communications