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Bronze gui with animal head handles Late Western
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Bronze gui with animal head handles Late Western
Bronze gui with animal head handles Late Western
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Manager ID
241
Title
Bronze gui with animal head handles Late Western Zhou dynasty (9th-8th century BC)
Short title
Bronze gui with animal head handles Late Western
Record number
BATEA : 229
Simple name
food container
Classified name
metal; bronze; Zhou; animal; food container; inscription; China; gui; burial; ritual; handle; ancestor; tomb; belief;
Description
Description part summary
The vessel shape curves inwards to include the lid in a rounded profile derived from a much earlier ceramic form. Decorated with horizontal grooves between borders of alternating large and small intaglio scales at the neck, on the lid and on the footring, which has three small feet. The lid has a circular flange as a handle, which probably served as a foot for the lid when it was inverted. Two U-shaped handles on each side are crowned by animal heads with coiled horns. The surface of the bronze is a rough grey-green with extensive red patches of cuprite. Spacers are visible around the inscription on the body, but they are not evident on the lid.
Description material
bronze
Description condition
The object was conserved by Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre in 2017-18
Description Colour
Aspect
Colour
body
grey-green
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Description length
Description height
25.2 cm
Description diameter
Description width
24 cm
Description depth
Description inscription
An inscription of 31 characters on both body and lid. The inscription can be translated as 'Tai Shi Xiao Zi Shi made this honoured gui vessel for his august ancestor Shi to be used in prayer for a vigorous old age, peaceful and indulgent, with entreaties for generous blessing. May Shi's sons and grandsons forever value and employ (it) for a myriad years'.
Description notes
Gallery location
Brunei Gallery, SOAS
Production date
9=8 century BC
Production period
Western Zhou
Production place
China
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