Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

Ashmolean − Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

The Barlow Collection

A select catalogue of the Barlow collection of Chinese Ceramics, Bronzes and Jades by the University of Sussex (published Sussex, 2006).

The Barlow Collection by the University of Sussex

Publications online: 456 objects

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Funerary flask, or bian hu, with handles and animal mask decoration

  • loan
  • Literature notes

    Of long rectangular section, the flask has a flat oval front and back, curved sides, a cylindrical neck and a splayed rectangular foot. Both shoulders have raised animal masks holding loose rings, the masks with elaborate curly features and a loop in place of a snout to hold the ring. The vessel is otherwise undecorated except for a recessed band around front and back and a raised band around neck and foot. The rim has an incurved edge with a recess for a cover to slot in, but the cover is missing. The patina is of grey-green tone.
  • Details

    Associated place
    Asia China (north) (place of creation)
    Date
    4th - 3rd century BC (400 - 201 BC)
    Warring States period (475 BC - 221 BC)
    Zhou Dynasty (c. 1122 - c. 256 BC)
    Material and technique
    bronze
    Dimensions
    24.8 x 26.5 x 9.5 cm (height x width x depth)
    Material index
    Technique index
    formed cast
    Object type index
    No. of items
    1
    Credit line
    Lent by the Sir Alan Barlow Collection Trust.
    Accession no.
    LI1301.14
  • Further reading

    University of Sussex, and Arts and Humanities Research Council, The Barlow Collection, supervised by Regina Krahl, Maurice Howard, and Aiden Leeves (Sussex: University of Sussex, 2006), no. B16

Glossary

hu

  • hu

    A Chinese ritual baluster vessel.

Location

    • currently in research collection

Objects are sometimes moved to a different location. Our object location data is usually updated on a monthly basis. Contact the Jameel Study Centre if you are planning to visit the museum to see a particular object on display, or would like to arrange an appointment to see an object in our reserve collections.

 

Publications online

  • The Barlow Collection by the University of Sussex

    The Barlow Collection

    Of long rectangular section, the flask has a flat oval front and back, curved sides, a cylindrical neck and a splayed rectangular foot. Both shoulders have raised animal masks holding loose rings, the masks with elaborate curly features and a loop in place of a snout to hold the ring. The vessel is otherwise undecorated except for a recessed band around front and back and a raised band around neck and foot. The rim has an incurved edge with a recess for a cover to slot in, but the cover is missing. The patina is of grey-green tone.
Notice

Object information may not accurately reflect the actual contents of the original publication, since our online objects contain current information held in our collections database. Click on 'buy this publication' to purchase printed versions of our online publications, where available, or contact the Jameel Study Centre to arrange access to books on our collections that are now out of print.

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