西周 青銅簋|Grain serving vessel (gui)
Unknown Artist
early 9th century BCE
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
H. 9 in. (22.9 cm); W. 13 in. (33 cm)
Classification
Metalwork
Culture & Period
China · Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 B.C.)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Charlotte C. and John C. Weber Collection, Gift of Charlotte C. and John C. Weber through the Live Oak Foundation, 1988
Accession Number
1988.20.3a, b
Art Historical Context
This elegant bronze *gui* vessel, dating to the early 9th century BCE during China's Western Zhou dynasty (104–771 BCE), served as a ritual container for offering grains to ancestors. Standing just 9 inches tall and 13 inches wide, compact form exemplifies the refined metalwork of the period, crafted using the sophisticated piece-mold casting technique that allowed for intricate designs and precise shapes. Such vessels were essential in aristocratic ceremonies, symbolizing the elite's connection to divine forces and familial lineage. Bronze *gui* like this one highlight the Western Zhou's art...