Bronze Vessel (you)
China, Western Zhou dynasty (ca. 1046-771 B.C.)
Bronze.
height: 12 inches (305 mm); height including handle: 13 inches (330 mm); width: 8 1/4 inches (210 mm) lid: 4 7/8 inches (124 mm) diameter
AZ049
Provenance
Originally in the collection of the Emperor Ch'ien Lung, 18th century; Li Tsung-tai (a 19th century official); purchased from C.T. Loo by J.P. Morgan, Jr. in 1917.
Inscriptions/Markings
An archaic inscription within the cover states that "Po Chu caused the precious vase-formed vessel to be made".
Summary
The symbolic decoration on this vessel depicts the t'ao-t'ieh, a pattern for which there have been several explanations, none of which has been universally accepted. The cast inscription inside the cover indicates that the owner was of imperial rank.
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Classification
Department