Wine Vessel (Hu) (lid)
Unknown Artist
c. 1000–900 BCE
Medium
bronze
Dimensions
h. 46.1 cm · without cover: h. 41.7 cm
Classification
Metalwork
Department
Chinese Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
Accession Number
1944.61.b
About this artwork
This tall, slender bronze wine vessel, called a hu, has three bands of ornamentation: one above the foot, one around the neck, and one on the cover. Stylized birds or phoenixes are in the band around the neck, while the band on the cover and foot feature geometric dragons. The dragon and the phoenix may represent the Yin and Yang and would be equally appropriate on a bronze of either secular or religious purposes. It likely held liquids like wine at festive banquets or religious ceremonies.