Unknown
Ritual wine vessel, hu
Details
Artist
Unknown
Title
Ritual wine vessel, hu
Date
Middle Western Zhou dynasty, c.950-850 BC
Medium
Bronze
Reference
CVCSC 0303.A
Collection
Status
On Display
In the 28 centuries or so since this wine vessel was cast, it has developed a rich textured patina in shades of blue and green, but was probably highly polished when originally in use, to show off the nely-cast design on its body. The hu was usually made with a lid, but many of the lids have been lost over time, perhaps partly because later owners often used the vessels as ower vases.
Ritual wine vessel, hu Middle Western Zhou dynasty, c.950-850 BC © Compton Verney