<I>Lei<I> (ritual wine vessel)

Artist Unknown (China) — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 02:08:05 -0500

Title	<I>Lei<I> (ritual wine vessel)
Artist	Artist Unknown (China)
Date	1300-1201 BCE
Institution	Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Location	On view at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, G214

For this type of vessel the term Lei is confirmed by inscriptions. The Lei represents a vessel class in which a typical pottery shape has been translated into bronze. The decor, on a ground of spirals squared except for a single row of rounded ones, occupies four areas. In the lower part of the body is a band of large hanging blades, their borders scored, like flanges, with straight and T-shaped scores. Each contains two antithetical figures in flat, band relief. These are actually extreme corruptions of beaked dragons with bodies coalescing at the point of the blade. For this origin, see Karlgren Number 26, Plate 39 (50.46.101). Birds with cleft crests and heart-shaped horns alternate with whorl circles in the neck and lid belts. On the shoulder belt between are strongly stylized dragons with the same head serving two differently shaped dragon bodies a winged dragon on the one side, a dragon with curled-up tail and an extra plume on the tail end on the other. The animals' heads on the top of the ring handles are the same as the one seen en face on the lower part of the body. Patina silver green.

<I>Lei<I> (ritual wine vessel)

<I>Lei<I> (ritual wine vessel)

<I>Lei<I> (ritual wine vessel)

Artist Unknown (China)

1300-1201 BCE