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Square Wine Container (Fangyou)
Unknown maker (China), c. 1250–1046 BCE
This ritual wine vessel, called a fangyou, was made in Henan province, probably at Anyang, in the late Shang dynasty. The Cleveland Museum of Art says that its fine proportions and precisely cast decoration show the refinement and technical skill of Shang bronze art at its height.
The decoration contrasts crested birds, known as kuifeng, with a dense background of spiral patterns called leiwen. That contrast gives the vessel clarity and force. The square body is also a distinction, since most vessels of this kind are round or oval, so the museum calls it a rare and important type.
The vessel is about 27 centimetres high. Bronze casting on this scale and with this detail was a demanding craft.
From the museum record
| Artist | Unknown maker (China) |
|---|---|
| Date | c. 1250–1046 BCE |
| Medium | Bronze |
| Size | Overall: 26.7 x 13.4 cm |
| Museum | The Cleveland Museum of Art |
| Credit line | John L. Severance Fund |
| Accession number | 1963.103 |
| Licence | Open Access (CC0) |
Source: The Cleveland Museum of Art collection record. Facts such as dates, sizes and credit lines come from that record. The write-up above was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the museum record and standard references. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
