Unknown
Ritual food vessel, gui
Details
Artist
Unknown
Title
Ritual food vessel, gui
Date
Early Western Zhou dynasty (about 1050-771 BC)
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
H: 19 cm.
Reference
CVCSC 0407.A
Collection
Status
On Display
Although this gui dates from the Early Western Zhou dynasty, the taotie monster masks in the bands on the body and lid are derived from versions found on much earlier vessels of the Shang dynasty. The significance of this design is not well understood, but it developed from simple versions such as that on the large ding , through more complicated, yet still fairly abstract versions such as this, and finally to more concrete versions in higher relief.
Ritual food vessel, gui Early Western Zhou dynasty (about 1050-771 BC) © Compton Verney