Chinese Bronzes - Ritual Bronze Vessels


Coin container (beizhu 貝貯) - the mystical Taotie faces and the sacrificial ritus are part of Shang art and culture. The late Zhou time had a more practical approach to religion and art. The bronze vessels were much more decorated with scenes of daily life instead of the Shang and early Zhou vessels whose main purpose was to sacrify wine and food to the ancestors. The right coin container is from Western Han times.