Lei wine vessel, late 4th century BCE, 9 11/16 × 12 5/16 × 11 5/8 (di., belly) in., 13.2 lb. (24.61 × 31.27 × 29.53 (di., belly) cm, 6 kg), Bronze with gold, silver and copper inlay, China, 4th century BCE, This wine vessel is one of the most splendid examples of Eastern Zhou bronze art and technique. It is decorated with a geometric, brocade-like pattern of gold, silver, and copper inlay—actually, extremely stylized depictions of dragons and birds. As religious beliefs changed, ritual bronzes became more secular in use and decoration during the Eastern Zhou period. The fearsome taotie (composite animal) masks and symbolic animal motifs of the Shang and Western Zhou periods were increasingly replaced with abstract surface ornament such as 'hook and comma' patterns, granulation or, as in this case, metallic inlay. It was done as much to delight the eye as to inspire religious reverence. The vessel is reportedly from Jincun near present-day Luoyang, Henan province, and is part of a magnificent group of burial objects from the royal lineage of the Eastern Zhou.
Keywords:
Lei wine vessel, late 4th century BCE, di, belly, 13.2 lb, 6 kg, Bronze, gold, silver, copper inlay, China, 4th century BCE, wine vessel, splendid examples, Eastern Zhou bronze art, technique, decorated, geometric, brocade- pattern, gold, silver, copper inlay—actually, extremely stylized depictions, dragons, birds, religious beliefs changed, ritual bronzes, secular, decoration, Eastern Zhou period, fearsome taotie, composite animal, masks, symbolic animal motifs, Shang, Western Zhou periods, increasingly replaced, abstract surface ornament, hook, comma' patterns, granulation, case, metallic inlay, done, delight, eye, inspire religious reverence, vessel, reportedly, Jincun, present-day Luoyang, Henan province, part, magnificent group, burial objects, royal lineage, Eastern Zhou, di, belly, cm
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