Kuei (Ritual Food Vessel)

Artist Unknown (China) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 02:21:39 -0400

Title	Kuei (Ritual Food Vessel)
Artist	Artist Unknown (China)
Date	12th century B.C.
Institution	Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Location	On view at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, G214

Kuei without handles. The vessel is divided into four vertical panels by heavy flanges with alternate straight and T-shaped scores. In two places in the neck band the flanges give way to free animals' heads. The features of the bodied t'ao-t'ieh in the main belt are similar to those seen on vessels 50.46.48 and 50.46.86 (Karlgren numbers 7, 11, 30), except that the mouth line is S-shaped and shows the teeth. The dragons in the foot belt have the mouth of the ordinary gaping dragon, but the head turns downward, thus differing slightly from the usual trunked dragon.

Kuei (Ritual Food Vessel)

Kuei (Ritual Food Vessel)

Kuei (Ritual Food Vessel)

Artist Unknown (China)

12th century B.C.