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Archaic bronze pouring vessel (He)
China, Eastern Zhou period, late Spring & Autumn to Warring States period, 6th or 5th century BC Height: 9 1/4 inches, 23.5 cm
A bronze pouring vessel, the compressed globular body supported on three short cabriole legs which end in round feet. The ewer has a curved spout in the form of a monster’s head with wide-open mouth and pricked ears, and a fixed bail handle. The handle terminates in a further monster’s head, the front legs to either side. The monster at the back of the handle appears to devour a mongoose, which in turn holds a chain in its mouth to which the lid is attached. The slightly domed lid is topped by a small, long-tailed animal standing four-square. The vessel is covered in a green patina, leaving relatively large areas showing the original golden finish of the metal. The He ewer is generally believed to have been used for heating liquid; either water or beer 1 . Earlier versions of this type of ewer were often cast in the form of an animal. In this later development of the shape only certain features, such as the handle and the spout, retain animalistic features. The complex iconography of the latter contrasts sharply with the otherwise plain body. According to Jenny So: ‘Comparatively simply decorated He […] (are) more typical of the north.’2 He with wholly undecorated bowls, but with a handle, spout and sometimes legs in animal form, have been excavated from sixth and fifth century BC tombs in Shanxi 3. A more simplified He is in the Shanghai Museum 4 and a more elaborate example was formerly in the collection of Bella and P.P. Chiu 5. Proof that the shape remained popular for a relatively long time is provided by a He with phoenix-head spout, which was excavated in 1977 from the tomb of King Cuo (r. 327 – 313 BC) in Hebei province 6. 1 See: Rites et Festins de la Chine Antique – Bronzes du Musée de Shanghai (Musée Cernuschi) (Paris 1998) p. 153 |
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