Caption

Hu-type vase, Chinese art, Chinese culture; subject: birds, dragons, taotie, Chinese symbols; function: ceremonial/ritual vessel bronze hu-type; description: ovoid-shaped belly, cylindrical neck with straight rim, high distinct conical foot; semicircular clubs attached to the collar; rich relief decoration on the belly emphasized with engraving; classic decorative motifs: taotie masks, mythical kui animals, stylized birds, geometric patterns; period: Qing 1644–1911, 18th–19th century, China; dimensions: height 59.5 cm, width 40.0 cm, weight 19.0 kg., A large, rounded metal vessel with a narrow flared neck and a broad foot stands against a plain light gray background; the vessel shows an overall brown and bronze patina with areas of darker and lighter bronze tones, and a few subtle greenish and golden highlights. The body of the vessel is covered in repeated raised decorative bands and intricate carved or cast geometric and zoomorphic patterns encircling the midsection and neck, and a stylized mask-like motif projects from the shoulder. The surface appears slightly aged with varied sheen, and the base flares into a stepped circular foot that also bears patterned bands in the same bronze and brown colors.

Credit line

Photo12/Liszt Collection

Reference

LZT26A22_159

License type

Rights managed

Available size

77.2Mb (2.3Mb) / 15.0in x 20.0in / 4500 x 6000 (300dpi)

Keywords

Hu-type vase Chinese art Chinese culture subject birds dragons taotie Chinese symbols function ceremonial ritual vessel bronze hu-type description ovoid-shaped belly cylindrical neck straight rim high distinct conical foot semicircular clubs attached collar rich relief decoration belly emphasized engraving classic decorative motifs masks mythical kui animals stylized birds geometric patterns period Qing 1644–1911 18th–19th century China dimensions height 59.5 cm width 40.0 cm weight 19.0 kg large rounded metal vessel narrow flared neck broad foot stands plain light gray background brown bronze patina areas darker lighter bronze tones subtle greenish golden highlights body covered repeated raised decorative bands intricate carved cast geometric zoomorphic patterns encircling midsection stylized mask- motif projects shoulder surface slightly aged varied sheen base flares stepped circular foot also bears patterned bands brown colors.