Beaker
Shang dynasty ( about 1600–1050 BC )
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
31.2 × 17.5 cm (12 1/4 × 6 7/8 in.); Diam.: 17.5 cm (6 7/8 in.)
Classification
vessel
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
109223
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This elegantly dignified vessel displays the taut, slender profile and crisply cast surface decoration that distinguishes the finest bronzes made for late Shang royalty. Long tapered blades above a band of serpents encircle the wide, trumpet-mouthed neck. Monster masks (taotie) with angular horns surround the middle section. All motifs are organized in clearly defined quadrants, which are divided by striated flanges and reserved against a background of finely squared spirals.
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...