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STUDY GUIDE |
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ARTHUR M.
SACKLER GALLERY
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| 1. Lei, Ritual Wine
Vessel, Shang Dynasty, c. 15th Century BCE, No. S 1987.22, Accession No. v-59 (Center case on the left with your back to the Hall) |
| a. Widely recognized as one the earliest Chinese bronze vessels in the Sackler Gallery. | |
| b. Find the horizontal bands. Can you find the Taotie mask? Sketch the design and the mask. Are you able to locate the vertical scars that appear three times around the circumference of the vessel? What caused these scars. Make a small drawing of the vessel. |
| 2. Jia, Ritual Wine Vessel, Shang Dynasty, c. 15-14 Century BCE, No. S 1987, Accession No. V-108. Center case right |
| a. This vessel would have been used for heating and serving ritual libations. | |
| b. What is the shape of the body? What is the design of the motif on the register? Is it a dragon? Sketch the design found on the register. What are the major characteristic of this vessel? |
| 3. Jue, Ritual Drinking Vessel, Shang Dynasty, c. 13th-12th Century BCE, No. S 1987.53 Accession No. (In case to the left) |
| a. Notice the flaring rim and the pouring spout that is supported by three triangular, splayed, pointed legs. How has the general shape of the legs changed from the earlier vessels? What about the decorations? |
| 4. Fangyi, Shang Dynasty, Ritual Food Container, 12 Century BCE, S 1987.38 (Center object, Case on Back wall under Shang Dynasty sign) |
| a. The basic geometric form of this Fungyi has caused some scholars to suggest that the bronze examples might conceivably have evolved from wooden prototypes. What do you think of this statement? Why? | |
| b. What designs do you find on the surface? Did you find the Taotie? Birds? Dragons? Can you find the elements of the piece mold? Sketch the designs that find on the surface. |
| 5. Guang, Shang
Dynasty, Ritual Wine Server, 12th Century BCE, S 1987.279 |
| a. What is the design of the lid on this container? What is the animal on the opposite end of the lid? The body of the vessel is decorated with what patterns? Taotie? What design decorates the top of the handle? Sketch the designs you find on the surface of this vessel. |
| 6. Yu, Shang Dynasty, Ritual Wine Server, 13th Century BCE, No. 1987.23 (Cawe on left wall, Center object) |
| a. What do you observe about the structure of this vessel? Notice the handle! What is the decoration found on the handle? What is the animal found of the surface of the vessel? Can you find the owl's legs? Where are they located? Is there a dragon? A Taotie mask? Sketch the decorations found on this container. |
| 7. Ding, Western Zhou Dynasty, Ritual Cooking Vessel, 11th Century BCE, No. 1987.303 (Western Zhou Gallery, Center Case) |
| a. How has this vessel changed from the Shang vessels seen earlier? The Taotie mask? General designs? Shape of the vessel? |
| 8. Gui, Western Zhou Dynasty, Ritual Cooking Vessel, 11th Century BCE, No. 1987.356 (Center Case, Vessel on right when you are facing the sign that reads Western Zhou) |
| a. What is the general shape of this vessel? What are the masks? Taotie? Birds? General surface design? |
| 9. Fanghu, Early Eastern Zhou, Ritual Wine Container, 8th Century BCE, No. S. 1987.2 |
| a. What is the general shape of this vessel? Is there an animal motif? What about the shape and size of the registers? The wave pattern? What has happened to the Taotie and the dragon? What animals is found on the lid? Sketch the general designs found on this vessel. |
| 10. Zhong, Spring and Autumn Period, Graduated Set of Six Ritual Bells, 6th Century BCE (On Wall) |
| a. This set of chimes, of ancient Chinese bronze bells constitutes one of the rare intact series of graduated bells outside of China. Describe the decoration found on the surface of the bells. What has happened to the designs? |
| As you examine the various burial objects, notice the change in the shape of the objects, changes in design, improvement in casting, and the style of the surface design. Generally, how have the designs changed? |