Flask (bianhu)
Eastern Zhou dynasty, Warring States period (475–221 B.C.)
Medium
Bronze inlaid with copper
Dimensions
36.3 × 34 × 11 cm (14 5/16 × 13 3/8 × 4 5/16 in.)
Classification
bronze
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
23144
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This canteen-shaped container was probably modeled after leather flasks designed to be slung from the shoulder by cords. The bricklike pattern of inlaid copper may allude to this cord wrapping. A stamp carved with a pattern of feather-curls was repeatedly impressed into the clay mold to create this intricate surface decoration.
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...