Department:
The Museum Proper
Replica or Original:
Replica
On Display, In Storage, or in a Private Offsite Collection:
On Display
Primary Material:
Metal
Medium:
Bronze
Dimensions:
14.5" x 18" x 5"
Classification/Category:
Furnishings
Specific Classification:
Bronze
Notable Signatures,
Inscriptions, and/or Markings:
Donated by:
Unknown
Accession Number
1993.053.001
Artifact Date:
2000 - 999 B.C.
Shang Dynasty (c. 1600-1046 BC)
Artifact Era/Dynasty:
Unknown
Creator:
Chinese
Creator Ancestry:
The decanter in the Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre collection is a two-piece sculptural vessel, decorated with dragon and bird patterns. Bronze Decanter in the Shape of an Animal charactarizes several animals relevant to Chinese culture and history. As recognized in Chinese Bronze Ware: A Mirror of Culture, dragons are worshipped throughout Chinese fables and legends, and often symbolize their divinity as gods of water. The bronze animal head is an artistic representation of a Ram. During the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC) it was very common for bronze vessels to be depicted as an ambiguous animal, however the head would resemble a ram. Ram and sheep are quite significant within Chinese culture, as they are one of the twelve animals represented in Chinese zodiac.
Artifact Date:
2000 - 999 B.C.
Artifact Era/Dynasty:
Shang Dynasty (c. 1600-1046 BC)
Creator:
Unknown
Creator Ancestory:
Chinese
Catalogue Entry
Online References:
Song, Li. Chinese Bronze Ware: A Mirror of Culture. Beijing. China Intercontinental Press. 2009.
Welch, Patricia Bjaaland. Chinese Art. A Guide to Motifs and Visual Imagery. North Clarendon. Tuttle Publishing. 2008.
Department:
The Museum Proper
On Display, In Storage, or in a Private Offsite Collection:
On Display
Replica or Original:
Replica
A Bronze Decanter in the shape of an animal.
一個動物形狀的青銅盛水器。
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Classification/Category:
Furnishings
Specific Classification:
Bronze
Notable Signatures,
Inscriptions, and/or Markings: