Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

Ashmolean − Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

The Barlow Collection

A select catalogue of the Barlow collection of Chinese Ceramics, Bronzes and Jades by the University of Sussex (published Sussex, 2006).

The Barlow Collection by the University of Sussex

Publications online: 456 objects

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Ritual wine vessel, or gu, with taotie mask pattern

  • loan
  • Literature notes

    The tall slender vessel has a short central section with a tall, widely flaring neck and a high trumpet-shaped foot. The piece is decorated around the centre with a taotie design divided by four raised notched flanges with prominent eyes and stylized raised eyebrows, ears, horns and fangs, all on a dense scrollwork ground. The foot shows a similar design with a band of dragon motifs above; and the neck has a band of snake motifs and similar masks decorating four elongated blades. Between body and foot is a plain band with double raised lines and two cross-shaped piercings from casting. The surface has a patchy green patina with areas of brown.
  • Details

    Associated place
    Asia China (north) (place of creation)
    Date
    12th century BC (1200 - 1101 BC)
    Shang Dynasty (c. 1600 - c. 1050 BC)
    Material and technique
    bronze
    Dimensions
    31.8 cm (height)
    15.5 cm max. (diameter)
    Material index
    Technique index
    formed cast
    Object type index
    No. of items
    1
    Credit line
    Lent by the Sir Alan Barlow Collection Trust.
    Accession no.
    LI1301.9
  • Further reading

    University of Sussex, and Arts and Humanities Research Council, The Barlow Collection, supervised by Regina Krahl, Maurice Howard, and Aiden Leeves (Sussex: University of Sussex, 2006), no. B10

Glossary (2)

gu, taotie

  • gu

    Chinese ritual wine vessel with flaring mouth and foot.

  • taotie

    Stylized monster mask decoration with prominent eyes and scrolling horns. The motif has been known since the 1100s. Its significance remains mysterious.

Location

    • currently in research collection

Objects are sometimes moved to a different location. Our object location data is usually updated on a monthly basis. Contact the Jameel Study Centre if you are planning to visit the museum to see a particular object on display, or would like to arrange an appointment to see an object in our reserve collections.

 

Publications online

  • The Barlow Collection by the University of Sussex

    The Barlow Collection

    The tall slender vessel has a short central section with a tall, widely flaring neck and a high trumpet-shaped foot. The piece is decorated around the centre with a taotie design divided by four raised notched flanges with prominent eyes and stylized raised eyebrows, ears, horns and fangs, all on a dense scrollwork ground. The foot shows a similar design with a band of dragon motifs above; and the neck has a band of snake motifs and similar masks decorating four elongated blades. Between body and foot is a plain band with double raised lines and two cross-shaped piercings from casting. The surface has a patchy green patina with areas of brown.
Notice

Object information may not accurately reflect the actual contents of the original publication, since our online objects contain current information held in our collections database. Click on 'buy this publication' to purchase printed versions of our online publications, where available, or contact the Jameel Study Centre to arrange access to books on our collections that are now out of print.

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