I am a senior undergraduate in the Kress Foundation Department of Art History at the University of Kansas. During the fall 2012 semester, I will be participating in a class project to update pages associated with Chinese bronze ritual vessels. I will be working with two classmates, Ychanooo and Sm3438, to expand the page for hu (壺) vessels. My research will focus on the function and use of hu vessels as well as the decor.
Preliminary Work
editI have been studying the function, use, and décor of hu vessels. So far, I have concentrated on journal articles and other online resources. Most of what I have found conforms to what we have been learning in class. I am particularly interested in the way the décor changes over time and have been looking for information regarding the different periods. For the final entry, I plan to have décor example from each of the main periods we have studied as well as more specific information regarding the use of the vessel. Though, that may not be that available. I have some references listed that I have not written about yet. They are there so you can see the journals I have been using.
Function and Use
editMost Chinese bronze vessels fall into two categories, food vessels or wine vessels. Hu vessels were used for wine and were an important part of cultural rituals. The hu is a pear shaped vessel that has been found in both a round and square form.[1]
Decor
editOne example from this time shows the entire vessel covered with images that correspond with everyday life. Silk worm farming, hunting, archery, and warfare are all represented.[2] Interlacing dragon motifs were popular during the Chou period. [3]
Citations
editReferences
editEncyclopædia Britannica Online, s. v. "hu", accessed October 30, 2012, http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/274091/hu.
Rawson, Jessica. “Two Chinese Bronze Ritual Vessels (British Museum)” The Burlington Magazine , Vol. 114, No. 837 (Dec., 1972), pp. 870+872-873
Herold, Robert J. "A Family of Post-Han Ritual Bronze Vessels" Artibus Asiae , Vol. 37, No. 4 (1975), pp. 259-279
Unknown, "A Masterpiece in Bronze" Bulletin of the City Art Museum of St. Louis , Vol. 26, No. 2 (APRIL, 1941), pp. 42-45
Weber, Charles D. "Chinese Pictorial Bronze Vessels of the Late Chou Period. Part IV" Artibus Asiae , Vol. 30, No. 2/3 (1968), pp. 145-213+215-236