Western Zhou Four-eared Gui

Age: Western Zhou, Grade 1

Specifications: Total height 23.8cm, diameter 26.8cm, belly depth 15cm, foot diameter 18.6cm, weight 8.4kg

Excavation site: Excavated from Tomb No. 1 of Zhifangtou State Cemetery in Baoji City in 1981.

Food container. Wide mouth with rolled rim, four animal ears, deep belly, nearly straight belly wall, high foot ring, neck decorated with a circle of round nipples, three rows of round nipples, arranged in an orderly manner. The body of the gui is decorated with a circle of fine straight ridges, two string patterns above and below, and a circle of round nipples in the lower abdomen, four rows of round nipples. There are four groups of Taotie animal faces on the foot ring, with a ridge in the middle. The animal faces are composed of two symmetrical bent Kui dragons, with a cracked mouth, a single horn, an arched back, and a curled tail. The animal ears and the body of the gui are cast separately, and the tenon joint is used to fit together. The casting method is very delicate. The four animal ears are rectangular and long, and the ears almost touch the ground. On the upper part of the animal ears, the animal head is embossed like a bull's head, with two ears raised to the side, round eyes, and a lively and natural look. On the bull's head stands a sheet-like copper plate, which is round at the top and round at the bottom, with a groove in the middle. The raised part of the copper plate is raised like a bull's horn, with two protruding ridges in the groove, and a small bull's head sandwiched between the ridges. The back of the copper plate is also decorated with a small bull's head. The lower part of the animal ears is decorated with a small bull's head in the middle, with bird patterns outlined in negative lines on both sides. There are two vertical grooves on both sides of the pendant ear, decorated with two symmetrical bull heads. A total of 24 bull heads are decorated on the four ears. There is a positive pattern on the outer bottom of the gui. The gui is ingeniously cast and decorated solemnly and elegantly. It can be said to be a treasure among the bronzes of the Western Zhou Dynasty.