6th-century ewer a combination of Eastern and Western cultures

This gilded silver ewer from the Northern Zhou Dynasty (557-581), with its duckbill spout, slender neck and drooping belly, stands on a high-footed base with a handle adorned by an intricately cast human head with a deep gaze and helmet-like cap.

Six embossed relief figures surround the pot’s body, organized into three pairs, each depicting a male and female figure from Greek mythology.

As a wine vessel, the ewer follows the style of Sasanian metalware. With unparalleled craftsmanship and rich decorations, it is a significant testament to the cultural exchanges between the East and West.

Unearthed from the tomb of Li Xian (a high-ranking official of the period) and his wife in Yuanzhou district, Ningxia, in 1983, the pot is in the permanent collection of the Guyuan Museum of Ningxia.