Tripod Caldron (Ding)
Eastern Zhou dynasty, Spring and Autumn period (770–481 B.C.), late 6th century B.C., State of Jin
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
33.6 × 34 cm (13 1/4 × 13 3/8 in.); Diam.: 34 cm (13 3/8 in.)
Classification
vessel
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
28444
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
In the sixth and fifth centuries B.C., bands of continuously entwined dragons became the hallmark of a new decorative style. This style of flat, interlaced ornament, combining profile heads and snakelike trunks, came to be known as "Liyu" after the town in northern China where a hoard of similar bronzes purportedly came to light in 1923. The source of these bronzes remained unknown until 1957, when archaeologists working at the Jin state capital of Houma (southwest of Liyu) discovered thousands...
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...