Objects We Love: Lidded Ritual Ewer

Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art
24 Feb 202105:04

Summary

TLDRIn this engaging presentation, Keith Wilson, Curator of Ancient Chinese Art at the Freer and Sackler Galleries, introduces a fascinating 3,000-year-old bronze pouring vessel. Once used in ritual ceremonies, the object is adorned with intricate depictions of real and mythical creatures, creating a dream-like and eerie scene. Wilson highlights the vessel’s unusual design features, like bird claws and dragon wings, and invites viewers to explore a high-resolution 3D model of the artifact online. This captivating exploration of ancient art showcases the creativity and symbolism behind the vessel's design.

Takeaways

  • 🎨 The object is a cast bronze pouring vessel, resembling a pitcher with a spout and handle.
  • 📏 It's smaller than a loaf of bread and stands on four pointed feet, with a lid and intricate decorations.
  • 🍶 The vessel was likely used to serve warm alcoholic beverages during ritual ceremonies, about 3,000 years ago.
  • 🍚 The ancient drink was made from fermented grain, similar to modern-day sake.
  • 🐉 The surface of the vessel is covered with a mix of real and imaginary animals, making it visually complex and peculiar.
  • 🦅 The vessel's front is shaped like a bird, with a beak, wide eyes, clawed legs, and talons, but its wings are represented as coiled dragons.
  • 🦎 Small four-legged lizards are depicted between the bird's eyes and beak, adding to the vessel's strange appearance.
  • 🐏 The lid features a horned ram's head, but the body is replaced with other creatures like a dragon, tiger, fish, and elephant.
  • 👹 Two humanoid figures on the vessel's rear feet are depicted with scaly arms and snake-like bodies, held in the jaws of a monster.
  • 🌍 A 3D high-resolution model of the vessel is available on the Smithsonian's 3D platform, allowing users to explore its intricate design online.

Q & A

  • What is the object being described in the video?

    -The object is a cast bronze pouring vessel from the Freer collection, likely used to serve warm liquids such as alcohol over 3,000 years ago.

  • What was the vessel likely used for?

    -The vessel was probably used in important ritual ceremonies, specifically for serving alcohol during symbolic banquets offered to deceased ancestors.

  • What is notable about the vessel's size and structure?

    -The vessel is smaller than a loaf of bread and stands on four pointed feet. It also features a spout at the front and a handle at the back, with a lid on top.

  • What types of decorations cover the vessel?

    -The vessel is completely covered with depictions of real and imaginary animals. Some of the motifs are complete, while others are partial, creating a curious and sometimes frightening design.

  • Why does the curator find the object fascinating?

    -The curator finds the vessel strange and wondrous, noting the complexity of the decoration and how it evokes the feeling of a bad dream. The combination of the motifs is particularly peculiar and intriguing.

  • What modern technology was used to study the vessel in detail?

    -The Smithsonian’s Digitization Program Office created a high-resolution 3D model of the vessel, which allows for detailed exploration and study of its surface as though one were holding it.

  • What animal forms can be seen in the vessel’s design?

    -The front of the vessel suggests the form of a standing bird with a sharp beak, wide staring eyes, brows, and clawed legs. Its wings are depicted as coiled dragons, and four-legged lizards fill spaces around its head.

  • What other creatures are depicted on the vessel?

    -The lid features a ram’s head, but without a body. The space behind it includes a horned dragon, a tiger, a fish, and an elephant. Additionally, there are humanoid figures with snake-like bodies, held in the jaws of monsters.

  • What is the overall impression of the creatures depicted on the vessel?

    -The combination of real and imaginary creatures gives the impression of a spirit world in constant movement and flux. The design suggests a mysterious or otherworldly realm.

  • Where can viewers study the 3D model of the vessel?

    -The 3D model is available on the Smithsonian’s 3D platform at 3D.si.edu, where viewers can explore the object and access animated tours created by the curator.

Outlines

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Keywords

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Transcripts

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Связанные теги
Ancient ArtBronze VesselSmithsonian3D ModelRitual ObjectsChinese HistoryAnimal MotifsCurator InsightFreer GalleryInteractive Tour
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