Ewer [HE 盉]

3D Model

Eastern Zhou Dynasty-Warring States Period (c. 480-221 B.C.) Bronze, Tripod. 33 cm x 23cm x 34 cm. (13” x 9” x 13.5” [length x width x height])

Ancient Chinese bronze vessels served ritual and political (as well as practical) purposes, often as a means for rulers to display royal authority. Vessels such as the Ricci Institute’s He 盉 (which is the oldest item in our collection) display zoomorphic forms on the spout, handle, and legs. The dragon on the spout symbolizes the excellence of power on the Earth, the Seas, and in Heaven. Circular inscriptions on the lid and body provide valuable information on the historical events of the period, and often include details of patrimony.

This object was obtained by Ricci Institute Director, Fr. Antoni Ucerler, S.J. in 2020 in Japan, where it had once been in the collection of a branch of the Tokugawa family.

Description by Mark Stephen Mir and Dr. Kim Jihyun 김 지현 [金志玹] Ricci Institute, Boston College

3D Scan by: Chase Hockema