Covered Food Container
Western Zhou dynasty ( 1046–771 BC ), mid–9th century B.C.
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
19.9 × 21.3 cm (7 3/4 × 8 3/8 in.)
Classification
vessel
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
55833
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This tureen was reportedly discovered in 1890 in a storage pit in Fufeng county, Shaanxi province, about sixty-two miles west of the present-day city of Xi'an, the site of the Western Zhou capital. This cache is said to have comprised more than one hundred twenty vessels. Identical inscriptions cast inside the basin and lid inform us that this vessel was commissioned by Ke, who served as a quartermaster (shenfu) at the Zhou court. The text states that the Ke had this vessel made to commemorate ...
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...