Gui food container on a square base with phoenix pattern, early Western Zhou period, c. 11th-10th century BCE-China Archive

Image Number:C1A000464N000000000PAB
Dynasty:Western Zhou dynamics
Category:Bronzes
Function:ritual vessels, Food utensil
Material:mineral/metal/bronze
Description:. The upper layer of the neck and square seat is decorated with short tailed bird patterns, the belly and the belly of the square seat are decorated with straight rib patterns, the feet are decorated with long tailed bird patterns, and the lower layer of the square seat is decorated with Kui patterns, all reflecting the early Western Zhou Dynasty decorative style. The shape and decoration of the ear are special. The ear decoration perpendicular to the two sides of the belly and the rectangular pendant under the ear make the ear shape the most striking part of the whole device. The whole vessel is decorated with 18 embossed ox heads, which seems to mean the richness of sacrificial sacrifice with this sacrificial vessel. This kind of bronze Gui, which was decorated with giant bronze vessels with many cattle, was popular in the area around the king’s area during the reign of King Wu and King Cheng in the early Western Zhou Dynasty (today’s narrow western Baoji City). Its colorful bronze shapes and decorations seemed to reflect the founding atmosphere of the early Zhou Dynasty