Chinese Shang Dynasty Bronze Ritual Wine Vessel (Gu)

(13th - 12th Century BC)

A Shang dynasty ritual wine vessel with a plain trumpet neck above a pair of bow-string bands. Highly intricate designs cover the entire mid section and base with each of 8 design areas centered on a raised knob. The geometrical designs have amazingly small lines representing masterful bronze casting technology. The bottom banded area is marked with 4 cruciform apertures. It has been suggested that these features allow pressure buildup to escape the lower chamber, which could arise from drinking hot wine. The vessel is un-cleaned and in the same condition as when discovered with no flaws, cracks, or repairs.

Fine Detail

This wine vessel has surprisingly fine detail in the lower bands as shown below. The lines are about 1 millimeter in width. The late Shang and early Spring Autumn periods were known for fine bronze craftsmanship.

Some other wine cups from the Smithsonian Museum in Washingtion.

A wine cup from a recent Christies Auction.

A similar wine vessel was recently sold by Christies New York. Note this vessel appears to have been repaired and restoed and then waxed. Many older bronzes now in museums are waxed to show their beautiful patinas but the practice has lost favor and bronzes are now frequently kept in their original condition. See Chrisies Auction, wine vessel.