dui BM-1958-1015.1

Period:Eastern Zhou dynasty Production date:4thC BC-3rdC BC (circa)
Materials:bronze, silver, gold, glass,
Technique:inlaid, cast,

Dimensions:Height: 31.50 centimetres Width: 26.50 centimetres Depth: 25.50 centimetres

Description:
Bronze ritual vessel, ‘dui’, inlaid with silver. The circles were probably set with glass.
IMG


Comments:Rawson 1992:Inlay of gold and silver, often with semi-precious stones or glass, was developed so that the colour of the bronze vessels might match the brilliance of lacquers and textiles in use in the Eastern Zhou period. Inlay of coloured metals and stones began to replace the spectacular casting of earlier generations. Cast decoration could be mass-produced by using pattern-blocks, but inlay had to be applied by hand to each piece.