Tsun, wine container

Shang dynasty, ca. 12th century B.C.
Height: 45.2 cm Mouth diameter: 43.5 cm Weight: 8825 g

This angular vessel with a wide flaring neck and high, square foot is arbitrarily categorized as "tsun" type though tsun is merely an ancient generic name for ritual vessels. A bovine head almost in the round, lying in the center of each shoulder, is pre-cast. Crested birds of the "split-skin type" bifurcate at each angle of the body and rise in higher relief. Animal masks appear as decoration on the body and high foot. K'uei-dragons occupy the narrow shoulder.

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