Eternal Offerings
China
G215
Unknown
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![The shape of this vessel, called a Kien in its inscription, is very like that of the earlier Kuei. Fundamentally a Kien was a basin for holding water, but it is more probable that this example was not a profane vessel, but a ritual one. A companion vessel, exactly like this one and with the same inscription, is in the Freer Gallery. The decor is desposed in three belts separated by bands of plait-pattern, each strand in the plait made up of a number of very thin threads. A similar plait appears on the foot rim. The neck rim is adorned with a narrow band of cowries. The top and bottom belts on the body carry interlaced dragons, the head of every second one being close to the lower margin, the intervening heads being close to the upper. In the broad central belt are t'ao-t'ieh heads, every second seen right as the vessel stands, the intervening ones seen from above. This intricate scheme of interlaced bodies is clearly to be seen in Karlgren, number 51, figures 53 and 54. The four stout handles have t'ao-t'ieh heads at the top. This creature, with broad rolled up nose and a protruding, hooked crest in place of the ancient forehead sheild, is very different from the early ogre head. A row of stylized cicadas adorns the front and sides of the handles, and there are interlaced dragons on the flat, movable rings suspended from two of the handles. The technical execution of these decor elements narrow bare borders to every band, the center filled with either spirals or volutes with triangles, is exceedingly close to that on vessels of the Li-yu find (Umehara, Etude, plates 1 ff.) This is particularly interesting since Li-yu is in northern Shansi and the present vessels, according to Jung Keng (Shang-Chou, Volume 1, Page 470), were found in Huei-hien in northern Honan, thus both belong to the northern sphere. C.F. Yau suggests Kin-ts'un as the locale of this basin. Patina Light green with patches of blue. The inscription reads 'Kien-vessel [to be] handled [i.e. used] by the nobleman Chi.' For a discussion of the inscript](https://2.api.artsmia.org/800/814.jpg "Jian water basin, China")
![This unique vessel displays a technical perfection which proves that the artisans of Early Zhou sometimes fully equaled their Yin predecessors in taste and skill. The usual division into four panels is suggested exclusively by the free animals' heads alternating, in the neck region, with the handles. The decor ground, of rounded and acute angled spirals, carries an eyed band with diagonals in the foot belt and antithetical tail-raising birds in flat relief on the belly. The crests of these extraordinary birds split up in three strands, the middle one a short, spearlike point; the other two forming long plumes, one falling staight down past the turned head and in front of the breast, the other going forward past (and parallel with) the beak, then rising in a bold sweep above the head and descending in two parts behind the first strand. Thus three parallel bands descend, the outer two adorned with rounded figures reminiscent of those of a peacock. For comment of these figures see Karlgren, number 29, 50.46.120. From the raised tail three bands descend in a fashion exactly similar to those of the crest. The animal's head on the handle has large tusks protruding at the sides. The hook on the bottom is reminiscent of the bird representation often seen on Kuei handles. patina pale green with patches of blue green. The meaning of the inscription is ' The King attacked Tsi-yu and went out and attacked Naohei. When he came [back], he made liao-sacrifice [burnt-offering] in Tsung Chou and presented to [me], Kuo Po X, cowries, ten double strings. [I] presume in response to extol the king's grace, and so I have made my accomplished dead father's precious Kuei vessel. May for a myriad years sons and grandsons forever treasure and use it.' For comment on the inscription, see Karlgren, number 36 (50.46.119). The birds on the Kuei have a clase parallel on a 'YU' in the Simitomo Collection (Senoku, Volume 2, Plate 67) and on a 'TSUN' in the Imperial Collection, but are, for the rest, unique. Mr. Loo stated that this vessel and th](https://4.api.artsmia.org/800/830.jpg "Gui food vessel, China")
