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HU
WINE VESSEL
Late Warring States to early Western Han period
3rd century BC
China
This unusual group of vessels represents a tour
de force in ancient Chinese bronze casting. They
relate stylistically and technically to artistic
developments that took place in the southern regions
of China in the Chu, late Warring states and early
western Han periods. The group consists of a steamer
(Xian), a bulb mouth Hu wine vessel and a bowl (Jian).
The restrained classical forms are enlivened with
rich gilded surfaces and vigorous silver inlaid
designs.
This bulb mouth Hu wine vessel is probably the most
graceful of the three vessels, with the curved elliptical
body supported by a conical foot rim and the tall
cylindrical neck rising from the curving shoulders
and opening up into a six lobed bulb. The Hu is
far more extensively decorated than the other vessels
in the group.
A careful examination of the vessels ornamentation
and workmanship reveals an inlay technique not hitherto
described - and a degree of inventiveness that must
have demanded serious collaboration between artists,
designers and foundry specialists.
The inlay material has been
scientifically identified as silver amalgam by W.T.Chase
of the Arthur M Sackler Gallery and the Freer Gallery
of Art, Dr. Peter Northover of Cambridge University
and Dr. Nigel Seely of the Instute of Archaeology,
London University.
Steamer: Height 13.3 cm (5 ¼") Width: 23.3 cm (9
1/8")
Boiler: Height 13.4 cm (5 ¼") Width 23.5 cm (9 ¼")
Total combined height: 23.5 cm (9 ¼")
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