gu
- Museum number
- 1966,0223.3
- Description
-
Bronze alcohol vessel in the shape known as 'gu'. Decorated with taotie designs and inscription inside foot.
- Production date
- 1200BC-1050BC (circa)
- Dimensions
-
Diameter: 17.50 centimetres
-
Height: 30 centimetres
-
Weight: 1.15 kilograms
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- Rawson 1992:
The 'Gu' is a ritual vessel for wine with a curved profile constricted at the waist. One of the most ancient forms of ritual vessel, ceramic 'gu' were used from the Erlitou period. See BM 1990.0807.1.
As a group, bronze ritual vessels would have created a striking visual effect. Golden in colour when first made, they would rapidly have turned black in the humid summer climate of north-central China.
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
Exhibited
2012 Sep – 2013 Apr, BM G91, ‘Ritual and revelry: the art of drinking in Asia'
2009 -2010, 11 Dec - 10 May, Madrid, Canal de Isabel II, 'Treasures of the World's Cultures'
2009 1 May-20 Sep, Victoria, Royal BC Museum, 'Treasures of the World's Cultures'
2015-2020 25 Jun-Feb, Seoul, National Museum of Korea, Chinese Galleries
- Acquisition date
- 1966
- Department
- Asia
- Registration number
- 1966,0223.3
