Vessel for Ritual Offering (Dou)
In shape and decoration, these ceramic vessels—a gui and two dou—are modeled on bronze grain receptacles of the Eastern Zhou dynasty (770–256 B.C.), which would have formed part of a larger set of objects, employed in ritual offerings, that included containers for wine and meat. In later times, ceramic took the place of bronze, and vessels were color-coded according to one of four ritual altars at which the emperor conducted ceremonies: blue for heaven, yellow for earth, red for the sun, and white for the moon.
Artwork Details
- Title: Vessel for Ritual Offering (Dou)
- Period: Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Qianlong period (1736–95)
- Culture: China
- Medium: Porcelain with low-relief decoration under dark blue glaze (Jingdezhen ware)
- Dimensions: H. 10 3/4 in. (27.3 cm); Diam. 6 1/2 in. (16.5 cm)
- Classification: Ceramics
- Credit Line: Fletcher Fund, 1925
- Object Number: 25.143.2
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
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