Bamboo gu vessel with animal mask decor. 18th century, Qing dynasty.

Bamboo gu vessel with animal mask decor. 18th century, Qing dynasty.

• Image Number: K1G000033N000000000PAF
• Dynasty: Qing dynasty
• Category: Carvings
• Function: furnishings
• Material: Plants/Bamboo/
• Description:
  The whole vessel is divided into three sections, each of which is carved and ground from a section of bamboo. The utensil is slightly elliptical, with a long and thin body, a slightly convex abdomen and a short circle of feet. The neck is embossed with four banana leaf patterns, the interior is deformed with animal face patterns, and the lower part of the neck is decorated with Kui patterns; The abdomen and feet are embossed with deformed animal facial patterns; All the decorations are lined with cloud and thunder patterns. The abdomen and foot are embossed with T-shaped hollow ridges. This bamboo carving imitates the shape of the “Gu” in the drinking vessels of the late Shang Dynasty. In terms of ornamentation, it also imitates the dominant pattern of Shang Dynasty bronze ware – the animal face pattern, which was often called the taotie pattern by scholars in the past. The late Shang Dynasty was a brilliant period of Chinese bronze art. At this time, in addition to the main pattern, cloud and thunder patterns were often used as the ground pattern, increasing its complexity and magnificence. In addition, it is often decorated with high ridges. The characteristics of these bronze wares in the late Shang Dynasty were all imitated on this bamboo carving. However, thousands of years passed between the late Shang Dynasty and the early Qing Dynasty. Compared with those in the late Shang Dynasty, the animal face patterns have changed a lot, which is more similar to the antique patterns in the late Ming Dynasty. During the reign of Qianlong (1736-1795), the shape and ornamentation of bamboo carvings often imitated Shang and Zhou bronze ware. This may be one example.