Cleveland Museum of Art

Square Wine Container (Fangyou)

Date

c. 1250–1046 BCE

Medium

bronze

Culture

China, Henan province, probably Anyang, Shang dynasty (c. 1600–c. 1046 BCE), Anyang phase (c. 1250–1046 BCE)

Department

Chinese Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

From the finely proportioned body to the elaborate decoration cast with great precision, this ritual wine vessel displays the artistic refinement and technical virtuosity that marked the full blossoming of late Shang bronze art. The dramatic contrast of the crested birds ( kuifeng ) against the dense background of spiral patterns ( leiwen ) gives the vessel a new force, clarity, and intense vitality. The distinctive square body also places it as a rare and important type among the more usual round or ovoid types. The bird motif decoration of this bronze is uncommon; more often these bronzes are decorated with a combination of birds and dragons.

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