‘FANGHU’ VASE WITH HIGH FOOT

Description This vase (part of a pair of vases with inv. n. Cb/17b) used to hold cereal wine and the cereals themselves. It is made of light (and rather thin) bronze, with a hollow foot. This vessel can be distinguished from the other by the position of the lid, which has the classic fanghu shape with a truncated pyramid lid, a vertical hook on the flat top. It is painted with a thick layer of pigments spread directly on the bronze: red, black, green, “Han blue” (a color composed of a double silicate of copper and barium) and green-yellow probably toned down compared to the original hue. The lid features a stylized mountain; the raised hem at the top of the neck and the foot are adorned with cloud scrolls. The neck is underlined by three large triangles on each side, with the tip pointing downwards. A single sinuous design occupies each of the four faces on the belly of the vase: two dragons on the sides occupied by pushou masks, alternating with complex scroll designs.