On loan to The Met The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.
Altar vase
This is one of very few dated bronze altar vases to survive from the Ming dynasty. The mark on its base indicates that it was cast in the autumn of the seventh year of the Hongzhi period (1488–1505). The vessel’s form was loosely derived from ancient bronze wine containers (hu), and its elongated and unadorned body became the new standard for bronze altar vases. The meticulous and powerful representation of dragon heads makes it an outstanding example of this vessel type.
This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.
