Collection record · Everyday wonders
Hu (Jar)
The collection record classifies this work as metalwork. It is dated 481–221 BCE. Recorded culture or place: China, Eastern Zhou dynasty (770–256 BCE), Warring States period (475–221 BCE).
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A closer look at the details.
- Museum title
- Hu (Jar)
- Date
- 481–221 BCE
- Culture / origin
- China, Eastern Zhou dynasty (770–256 BCE), Warring States period (475–221 BCE)
- Materials and technique
- bronze
- Dimensions
- Overall: 25.5 cm (10 1/16 in.)
- Artist / maker
- Not specified by the museum
- Museum
- The Cleveland Museum of Art
- Accession number
- 1975.62
FROM THE MUSEUM
In the museum’s words
The following description is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art’s original English record.
The hunting scenes in flat, low relief on this vessel are among the earliest pictorial scenes in Chinese art, dating from the beginning of the Late Zhou period (481–221 BC).
There are six horizontal bands of low relief designs across the body of the vessel. Each is composed of repeating motifs. The short slightly flaring neck has a narrow band of plait pattern, below which is a vivid hunting scene. The hunter holding a long spear and a sword faces off with a feline covered in circle patterns.
The main body of the vessel is decorated with two wide bands of interlacing dragons, separated by a band with another hunting scene. This hunter faces two horned beasts whose rear leg has been pierced by a spear.
The repeating pattern in the lowest band features two long-legged birds and a small fish.
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Text and image sources
The Cleveland Museum of Art · Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund · CC0
The summary is based on public collection data. Refer to the museum’s latest record for the title, date and attribution.
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