Gui food container with dragon design on a square base, early Western Zhou period, c. 11th-10th century BCE

Gui food container with dragon design on a square base, early Western Zhou period, c. 11th to 10th century BCE

• Image Number:Height: 23.9 cm
• Function:Food container, Ritual vessels
• Material:mineral/metal/bronze
• Description:. The neck decoration is embossed with double body dragon pattern, and the dragon body presents scale effect with continuous shield pattern. The belly wall is decorated with straight rib patterns, the feet are decorated with long tailed bird patterns, and the ground is filled with cloud and thunder patterns. Two rectangular prominences are shaped like animal heads holding birds. The four corners of the square table top are decorated with cow head patterns, and the four sides are square bars with stealing curved patterns. The inner row of straight ribs echoes the patterns on the belly. The formula seat under the bronze Gui originated from the concept of copper ban as the exclusive seat of wine vessels, which prevailed in Baoji, Shaanxi in the early Western Zhou Dynasty, and influenced all around