Hu (Square wine vessel)

In traditional Chinese historiography the Bronze Age is brought to a close with the unification of the country in 221 B.C. under the first Qin emperor. But the casting of bronze vessels continued well into the Han Dynasty, and the square-shaped vessel of the type seen here seems to have been especially popular, to judge by the number of extant examples. It is still referred to as a container for wine, but there is no longer any substantive connection to the symbol-laden ceremonial wine vessels made centuries earlier. The more functional, utilitarian nature of this container is aptly reflected in its sharp-edged, swelling form. All ornamentation has been eliminated except for the small animal masks that serve as clasps for the ring handles. The visual appeal of this vessel comes, instead, from its handsome proportions and its simple purity of surface. It stands in sharp contrast to the richly textured bronzes of the Shang, but it is no less a testimonial to fine craftsmanship and sensitive feeling for form. (From “A Handbook of the Collection: Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art,” 1998)