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- 28 Li, tripod vessel (left)
grey earthenware, ht. 9 cm
Shang dynasty, 16th-11th centuries B.C. jmh Earthenware vessel with three bulbous hollow legs imitating the shape of a contemporary ritual bronze tripod food container called //. It has a short collar which flares out into a broad everted rim. This type of vessel, made of coarse clay and thick walls, may have served as a �cheap substitute� for bronze vessels buried with the dead. This example was found at Xiaotun near Anyang, the site of the last Shang capital.
Jue, wine vessel (right) grey earthenware, ht. 6.7 cm Shang dynasty, 16th-11th centuries B.C. jmh Earthenware vessel of coarse grey clay imitating the ritual bronze wine vessel called jue. It has three legs, a handle to one side and a spout which is similar in a crude way to its bronze counterpart.
29 Saucer lamp (left)
grey earthenware, d. 14.5 cm
Warring States period, 475-221 B.C.? JMH This unusual earthenware saucer lamp probably imi�tates a bronze lamp. It was found at Anyang.
Container with plug (right) grey earthenware, ht. 11.8 cm Warring States period, 475-221 B.C.? jmh Unusual container of bud-shaped form with splayed stem foot, and narrowing neck with plug.
30 Dou, ritual food container (missing lid)
bronze, ht. 15.4 cm
Eastern Zhou period, 6th-5th centuries B.C. ARM Vessel in shape of high round bowl with two ring handles on high flared stem foot. Bowl, with ledge for lid, is ornamented with three rows of minute, highly simplified, interlocking dragons separated by central ridge from two rows of same pattern. Below these bands and on stem foot are triangular-shape blades with symmetrical curls and masks. The flared foot has an interlaced pattern of dragons in low relief.
31 Swords
bronze, I. 54.2 cm and 44.5 cm Warring States period, 475-221 B.C. fmn and ARM (Top) Double-edged, sharp sword with simple hilt which is hollow to hold a pommel (now missing). On both sides of the heavy blade are tapered depressions running parallel with the edges. (Bottom) This smaller classical Chinese sword, which would be suitable for the cavalry, has two raised rings on handlefor binding cord. Also has two bevelled edges from a central ridge.
32 Mirror
bronze, d. 11 cm
Warring States/Western Han period,
3rd-2nd centuries B.C. JMH Mirror of the Huai type with pattern of interlaced drag�ons and inscription around the boss. The first bronze mirrors date back as far as the Shang period. They were believed to possess magical powers and were often placed in tombs. Since it holds and reflects the rays of the sun, it was believed that the mirror could ward off evil and provide eternal light in the tomb.
33 Mirror
bronze, d. 11 cm
Warring States/Western Han period,
3rd-2nd centuries B.C. FMN Mirror of the Huai type with boss surrounded by square band enclosing inscription. Into the main field projects the TLV pattern with dragon and compound spirals throughout the zone. The TLV pattern is now recognized as a playing board design for a board game known as lubo, see Wenwu, No. 4, 1979, pages 35-39.
34 Spoon
bronze, I. 7.7 cm
Warring States/Western Han period,
5th-1st centuries B.C. arm
This small spoon with a handle of three pierced loops is probably from the Ordos region of northwest China. The nomadic Ordos people were neighbours of Zhou China and had their own decorative style of bronze art usually marked by animal depictions.
35 Coins
bronze
Warring States period, 475-221 B.C. fmn and jmh During the Warring States period, the various states had their own coinage system with different shapes of coins such as knife-shape and spade-shape coins based on tool shapes as well as bridge-shaped coins. When the First Emperor, Qin Shi Huangdi, united China in 221 B.C., he standardized coinage into one shape� a circular coin with a square hole.
36 Huang, arc-shaped pendant
pale green jade, I. 6.9 cm
Eastern Zhou period, 770-221 B.C. fmn Flat arc-shaped pendant has one hole in top centre and two irregular perforations at either end. It is covered on the surface with comma shapes.
37 Huang, arc-shaped pendant
pale green jade, I. 6.9 cm
Eastern Zhou period, 770-221 B.C. jmh Flat arc-shaped pendant, notched by three serrations on top, and a single perforation at each end. Surface is covered with comma shapes.
38 Huan, ring-disc
pale green jade, d. 5.6 cm
Eastern Zhou period, 770-221 B.C. ARM
Flat ring-disc with surface decoration of comma shapes and raised border.
39 Belt-hook
pale green jade, I. 4.2 cm Eastern Zhou period, 770-221 B.C. fmn Belt-hook of simple S-form, terminating in a dragon�head hook, with chipped rectangular knob on the underside. The belt-hook was probably introduced to China by nomadic tribes inhabiting north China.
40 Pendant of cong shape
pale green jade, I. 6.5 cm
Zhou period, 11 th-3rd centuries B.C. jmh Small pendant of ritual jade shape known as cong. Cong-shaped jades have been found in Neolithic graves
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