Double owl-shaped <I>you<I>(ritual wine vessel)

Artist Unknown (China) — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 02:11:17 -0500

Title	Double owl-shaped <I>you<I>(ritual wine vessel)
Artist	Artist Unknown (China)
Date	1600-1046 BCE
Institution	Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Location	On view at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, G214

The rich decor of the vessel covers every surface except the backs of the stubby legs. The ground is squared spirals throughout. On the long side of the body the median line is marked by a free animal's head on the neck belt and by a t'ao-t'ieh in low relief on the bottom. The shoulder line of the owl is boldly stylized into an enormous spiral, the wing quills emerging in narrow parallel bands. Behind the quills the tail protrudes in a short downward hook. The shoulder, neck and quills are covered with scales. Two birds with cleft crests, bottle horns, and tails adorned with scales, flank the free head on the neck of the vessel. Coiled dragons decorate the front sides of the legs, and the bottom surface of the vessel is covered with scales in parallel rows. The whole area is bordered at the rim by a circle band which appears also on the adjoining rim of the lid. The owl has enormous eyes, and the horns are the large, C-shaped type of the ordinary t'ao-t'ieh. Patina bluish-green

Double owl-shaped <I>you<I>(ritual wine vessel)

Double owl-shaped <I>you<I>(ritual wine vessel)

Double owl-shaped <I>you<I>(ritual wine vessel)

Artist Unknown (China)

1600-1046 BCE