‘JIA’ VESSEL FOR CEREAL WINE

Description Bronze ritual vessel (jia) for heating and consuming wine. According to some, used in the ground sprinkling ritual in honor of Shang ancestors and deities. The vessel has characteristics that allow it to be attributed to the transition period between the archaic phase (Erligang, 16th-14th century BC) and the second Anyang phase (1300-1046 BC) of the Shang dynasty, such as the even ratio between the height of the feet and the body, the slightly pronounced pilasters with button knobs, the simple decorations with horizontal bands, the flat surfaces. There are two decorative bands, one in the center and one at the bottom of the body. The upper band features the “lightning motif” (leiwen), the central sector of the lower one consists of a zoomorphic mask (taotie) with the eyes widely spaced.