Jades for Life and Death

Classification: Vessel

Historical period(s): Han dynasty, 2nd-1st century BCE

Object Date: 2nd-1st century BCE

Medium: Bronze

Dimension(s): H x W: 17.5 x 25.5 cm (6 7/8 x 10 1/16 in)

Origin: China

Credit Line: Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

Collection: Freer Gallery of Art Collection

Accession Number: F1951.5

Description: Ceremonial vessel of the type lien

Curatorial Remarks

1. Bought from Walter Hochstadter, New York. For price, see Freer Gallery of Art Purchase List after 1920. 2. (A.G.W. 1951) The type lien is well known in bronze by the covered toilet boxes known to us, e.g. F1923.2, F1946.11, F1951.2, in this collection and a number of others elsewhere. However, the striking thing about this one is (1) the size, which is considerably larger than the others, and (2) the decoration in two bands showing mountains, and various mythological and recognizable animals pursuing their way around and over the mountains with frenetic activity. This decoration is cast in low relieft and superbly done but the whole style is quite unlike the toilet box decorations. On the other hand it is, together with the three bear-shaped legs, very like the so-called Han dynasty potter "hill jars," commonly called by the Chinese shan shou lien [Ch] or mountain and animal lien. These usually are furnished with covers either flatly dome-shaped or made in the shape of mountains. Our bronze has no cover, but the decoration on the body, including the bear-shaped legs, and t'ao-t'ieh masks to take ring handles on either side, is much the same. The pottery forms are all mortuary objects probably used for holding offerings of grain, etc. It should be noted also that the general feeling of the decoration is like that to be seen on several censers of the type po-shan-hsiang-lu [Ch] (see our F1947.15), which as we have shown elsewhere (see A.G. Wenley, "The Question of the Po-shan-hsiang-lu," in Archives of the Chinese Art Society of America, No. III, 1948-49, pp. 5-12) seems to show distinct foreign influence, perhaps emanating from the western trade routes to India, etc. This vessel is said by the dealer who sold it to have come from Ch'ang-sha. Judging from the many similarities to the so-called Huai style on this and on pieces known to be of Ch'ang-sha provenance, it is not at all impossible that it may have come from there. Furthermore the patination is similar to that commonly seen on Ch'ang-sha pieces, although, if I understand it correctly, few large-sized bronzes were found. 3. (R.J. Gettens, 1963) Weight: 8 lbs. 6 oz. 4. (H.C. Lovell, 1971) There is strong archaeological evidence for the use of vessels such as F1951.5 as wine-servers rather than as toilet boxes. Whereas F1946.11 and F1951.2 were probably toilet boxes (note shallow tray inside F1951.2 and probably also in F1946.11), F1951.5 is, as pointed by Mr. Wenley in his note above, considerably larger, its diamter being 10cm. wider than the other two. The main piece of evidence is in a pair of vessels excavated at Ta-ch'uan-ts'un [Ch] in Yu-yu Hsien [Ch], Shansi province. See report in Wen wu, 1963, no. 11, pp. 4-12; the vessels are illustrated on p. 6, figs. 4 and 5, and on pls. I and II. The two vessels, measuring 25 cm. 5. (J. Smith per Keith Wilson, 7/1/2008) Vessel added as secondary classification

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Ritual vessel (lien)

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