Details

Object type

you; wine vessel

Place Associated

China (place of manufacture)

Date

Shang Dynasty, c.1600-1046 BC

Materials

bronze

Dimensions

overall: 220 mm x 285 mm x 237 mm 6484 g

Description

This ancient stylistic bronze vessel with a swing handle, called a you, was one of a set of vessels used for serving wine at a ceremonial banquet or as part of a sacrifice to the ancestors. The royal household, who gifted sets of ceremonial bronzes to their followers as a sign of political patronage, closely controlled the smelting and casting and determined who would own such symbols of power and status. When the owner died, bronzes such as this were placed in burials, within the foundations of ancient ancestral temples and various ritual deposits, as evidence of their wealth and status and as a means by which one could continue to offer sacrifice for the benefit of the family in the afterlife.

Bronzes such as this became venerated objects, both at the time they were made and for later generations of Chinese who rediscovered and then collected them. The discovery of an ancient Bronze vessel in China has always been regarded as an auspicious omen. From the 11th century the Imperial family hired professional diggers and began collecting Chinese bronzes. The Qianlong Emperor in 1735 compiled a catalogue of the large imperial Chinese bronze collections and this further stimulated interest in the Western World.

This wine container has a bluish-green encrusted surface, or patina, was caused by oxidization of the soil whilst buried underground, a corrosive effect that was greatly admired by later generations of collectors in China. Sir William Burrell greatly prized the patina as it was a direct link to the past and its colour reminded him of jade. The main body of the vessel is decorated on each side with a large three-dimensional animal mask motif with curved horns cast in relief. The Chinese have termed this animal mask motif tao tie (literally, evil averting), and although it’s meaning and symbolism is something of a puzzle, it is likely that the mask was seen as a protection from evil.

Credit Line/Donor

Gifted by Sir William and Lady Burrell to the City of Glasgow, 1944

Collection

Burrell Collection: Chinese Bronzes [including Chinese iron items]

ID Number

8.1

Location

Burrell Collection

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