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鬲斝
11 – archaic bronze wine vessel li jia
SHANG DYNASTY, LATE ERLIGANG PERIOD
CIRCA 14 CENTURY B. C.
TH
H.: 21.6 CM D.: 13.5 CM
Ritual bronze vessel li jia (hybrid shape), sometimes called jia, used
to heat fermented beverages. The body is composed of three clus-
tered bulbous udder-shaped sections, similar to a li, and supported
by three hollow feet. Each udder-shaped section is decorated with
a large taotie mask with round and protuberant eyes.
The vessel’s high neck, decorated with a band containing a Loehr
Style II primitive taotie mask, ends in a flared lip. Two pillars ending
in conical mushroom-shaped knobs rise from the vessel’s upper rim.
The piece is embellished on one side with a flat semi-circular handle.
The vessel is covered with a green and blue patina.
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