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Bronze vessel with ram-head sculptures: masterpiece from the Shang Dynasty
Updated: Jun 6, 2022
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The bronze zun (wine vessel) with four ram-heads sculptures is a stunning piece of bronze ware dating to the Shang Dynasty (c.16th century-11th century BC).
The vessel is decorated with four ram-head sculptures at each corner, and the exquisite patterns endow the vessel with arresting charm, a testimony to the superb bronze-casting technology of 3,000 years ago.
The zun vessel used in sacrificial ceremonies was unearthed from Ningxiang city, Hunan province in 1938 and destroyed by bomb attacks during the war. After repairs, it is now in the permanent collection of the National Museum of China.
