Shengding food vessel

myminifactory

This remarkable ceremonial vessel was crafted around 575 BCE for use in sacred or state rituals. The term shengding is used to describe the type of tripod featuring a flat base and distinctive waist seen here. The word sheng refers to the meat offerings that were presented within them. Originally part of a seven-piece set of ding found in a southern Chinese tomb, this vessel was the second largest of its kind. Rising up from the cauldron body are six kui (single horn) dragons in high relief, climbing upwards towards the lid. Supporting the vessel are three sturdy legs with stylized dragon masks cast into their shoulders. The surface is adorned with interlaced dragons, incised scale patterns, and overlapping feather-like motifs. While most of the ornamentation was achieved through traditional piece-mold bronze-casting technology, the six dragons, with their intricate, perforated shapes, were created separately using the lost-wax method. This object was scanned by The Minneapolis Institute of Art.