Bucket with Swing Handle
Western Zhou dynasty ( 1046–771 BC ), 1000/950 BCdd
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
30.8 × 25.1 cm (12 3/16 × 9 7/8 in.)
Classification
vessel
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
34873
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The handled bucket is described in ancient texts as a vessel for carrying wine. This vessel's gently sagging profile is sparsely decorated—dragons with detached, hooked trunks are confined to narrow bands around the neck and lid. Contrasting with these abstract designs are more naturalistic rams' heads at the neck and on the handles, which are sculpted in the round. Such realistic animals appeared as secondary motifs on Shang bronzes but became more prominent during the Western Zhou. Identical ...
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...