Grain Vessel (Gui)
Late Shang/early Western Zhou dynasty, 11th century B.C.
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
17.5 × 23 cm (6 3/4 × 9 1/8 in.); Diam.: 23.2 cm (9 1/8 in.)
Classification
vessel
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
32538
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
A monster mask (taotie) spreads boldly across this vessel, conforming to its bulging contour. While showing some stylistic features of slightly earlier manufacture, this vessel's heavy handles and the spiny dragons beneath the mouth rim are characteristic of bronzes of the early Western Zhou dynasty (c. 1050-771 B.C.). The cruciform emblem enclosing the top character of the inscription is read ya. This emblem is thought to bear some relation to family names, although its exact meaning remains p...
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...