PAINTED BROZE ‘FANGHU’ VASE

Description This vase (and the other similar one with which it forms a pair, Cb/17a.D) is made of light and rather thin bronze. It is distinguished from the first by the position of the lid, the hook of which is perpendicular to the two zoomorphic pushou masks on the sides of the vase. It has the classic shape of the fanghu (“square hu”, used to hold cereal wine and the cereals themselves) 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” and a 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 vase's belly: a large bird with outstretched wings and a dragon (?) winged are represented on the sides occupied by the pushou masks, alternating with two other dragons.