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Title

'Li' (tripod)

circa 14th century BCE-11th century BCE

Artists

Unknown Artist

  • Details

    Other Title
    Tripod 'li'
    Place where the work was made
    Longshan → Shandong Province → China
    Period
    Shang dynasty circa 1600 - 1100 BCE → China
    Date
    circa 14th century BCE-11th century BCE
    Media category
    Ceramic
    Materials used
    grey earthenware
    Dimensions
    13.6 x 13.5 cm (irreg.)
    Signature & date

    Not signed. Not dated.

    Credit
    Purchased 1983
    Location
    Not on display
    Accession number
    231.1983
    Copyright

    Reproduction requests

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  • About

    The 'li' is a uniquely Chinese cooling vessel which when filled with water and covered with a perforated vessel, was used for steaming. The simple surface decoration is characteristic of such wares: the deep cord-like markings on the body are the imprints left by the cord-lined moulds in which the piece was shaped. The vessel shape is made of three mammary lobes standing on pointed feet.

    Reference:

    Willets, W., 'Foundations of Chinese Art' London, Thames and Hudson, 1965. pg.38, fig. 13.

    Valenstein, S., 'A Handbook of Chinese Ceramics' New York, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1975, collection plate no. 3 (pg.14).

    Pang, M.A., 'An album of Chinese Art' Melbourne, National Gallery of Victoria, 1983, fig. 14.

    Asian Art Dept., AGNSW, 21 September 1983.

  • Exhibition history

    Shown in 3 exhibitions

  • Bibliography

    Referenced in 1 publication

  • Provenance

    Lyttleton-Taylor Collection, pre Aug 1983, Australia, purchased at F.R. Strange's (auction house) on 4 August 1983, lot 24, by the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, Sep 1983.