Food container
Western Zhou dynasty ( 1046–771 BC ), 2nd half of 11th century BC
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
At lip: Diam.: 22.2 cm (8 3/4 in.); H.: 27 cm (10 3/4 in.)
Classification
vessel
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
34078
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The handled tureen is one of an extensive array of bronze vessels commissioned by China's royal family and political aristocracy for the preparation and offering of millet and other food in ceremonial banquets. This vessel's distinctive style, with its basin cast onto a hollow square base derived from an altar or stand, was introduced soon after the Zhou conquest of China's first archaeologically verified dynasty, the Shang. Exuberantly imaginative creatures animate the surface. Two large, coile...
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...