Carved bamboo ku with animal mask motif

Ch'ing dynasty (A.D. 1644--1911)
Height: 18.4 cm, Diameter at waist: 14.6 cm

This exquisitely carved vessel was done in imitation of a similar bronze wine vessel with animal mask motif from the late Shang or early Western Chou dynasties (13th - 101h cent. B.C.). Four evenly spaced vertical ridges run from top to bottom. The neck is adorned with plantain leaf and k'uei-dragon and animal mask motifs adorn the unusually tall base. A cloud and thunder diaper pattern provides the ground for all of these decorations. These are small fissures at places on the neck, the waist, and the everted mouth, indicating that the bamboo sections were first carved, then joined together.

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