K'ang Hou fang-ting

Early Western Chou dynasty (1122-770 B.C.), ca. 11th century B.C.
Height: 27.8 cm Width: 20.4 cm Weight: 5155 g

The rectangular body of this vessel carries hooked openwork flanges at the four corners and also in the center of each side. The latter flanges follow the central axis of the dissolved animal mask decorating each side. These faces stand above the lei-wen ground; they are flanked on either side by ranks of comma-shapes. The legs have incised hanging-blade designs.
The brief inscription says that the vessel was commissioned by the Marquis K'ang, brother of the first King of Chou.

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