Wine Warmer (Zun)
Western Han dynasty (206 B.C.–A.D. 9), 2nd/1st century B.C.
Medium
Gilt bronze
Dimensions
10.9 × 9.5 cm (4 1/4 × 3 3/4 in.); Diam.: 9.5 cm (3 3/4 in.)
Classification
accessory table equipment
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
55836
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This type of cylindrical vessel has been identified as a wine warmer (zun) through a similar inscribed example excavated in northern China. The vessel may have been used for a variety of foods or wines, but its short legs indicate that it was probably not designed to be placed over a fire. This metal shape was modeled after early boxes of lacquered wood that served as cosmetic containers (lian).
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...