A Bronze Hu Ritual Vessel

Han Dynasty, China, 206 BCE–220 CEBianhu vessel is characterized by a round and bulbous body, a short cylindrical neck, and paired ring handles at the shoulder. Originally derived from Shang bronze prototypes, vessels of this type were associated with the storage and presentation of wine in ritual contexts. During the Han Dynasty, the burial of bronze was strongly discouraged and terra cotta bianhu examples proliferated. Mingqi funerary objects intended to accompany the deceased into the afterlife as symbols of refinement and status. The sculptural silhouette reflects the enduring influence of archaic bronze forms within early Chinese ceramic traditions.