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Bronze Gui Vessel of Jinlin - View 1

The Palace Museum

The Palace Museum
Beijing, China

The round vessel has a flaring mouth, a wide body, two handles, and a ring foot. The two handles (called er, or ears, in Chinese) are decorated with animal and bird heads, while the rectangular features at the bottom of the handles show designs of bird tails and feet. The front and back of the body are decorated with large animal mask designs (shoumian wen). The mouth and ring foot are embellished with a set of spiral patterns intermingled with modified kui dragon designs. The middle section shows an animal mask design cast in relief. The interior's base is carved with an inscription of eight characters in one line that records how Jinlin made this treasured vessel for his father Yi. This text indicates that Jinlin was in possession of this bronze vessel, and he made it in order to venerate his father Yi. The animal mask design on the body of this vessel is simple but elegant, while the handles—with their round carvings and life-like content—are rather complicated and exceedingly rare. This gui vessel belonged to the Qing inner court at the Summer Palace.

full view of the item

Details

  • Title: Bronze Gui Vessel of Jinlin - View 1
  • Physical Dimensions: height: 16.7 cm, width: 33.5 cm, mouth diameter: 21 cm, weight: 3.66 kg
  • Provenance: Qing imperial collection
  • Type: bronze
  • Dynasty: Early Western Zhou dynasty (1027-771 BCE)

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