Mee Lee

As described

Well

private collection

This "Tripod Ding-shaped Pottery of Qijia Culture" dates back to approximately 2300 to 1800 BC, belonging to the late Neolithic to early Bronze Age relics of the Qijia culture in the upper reaches of the Yellow River. The Qijia culture, situated between the Majiayao culture and the early Bronze Age, represents an important transitional phase in China from painted pottery to bronze civilization, serving as a bridge for the rise of bronze smelting, jade craftsmanship, and ritual systems in later generations.

The vessel is made of gray pottery, fired at a relatively high temperature, resulting in a solid structure. It features a tripod ding shape, with three columns elevated at the bottom, facilitating its upright position above a heat source and enhancing cooking and heating effects. The body of the pot is primarily decorated with diagonal lines and incised patterns; the designs are prominent yet simpler than those of painted pottery, indicating a shift in Qijia culture pottery from decorative elements to stronger practicality. Such ding were often used as cooking utensils or ritual vessels, with handles on the sides of the shoulder to enhance portability.

In addition to fulfilling everyday needs, the diversified types and practical designs of Qijia culture pottery also reflect the early emergence of ritual specialization and social stratification concepts, serving as important material evidence of China's ritual civilization and the onset of the Bronze Age. This tripod ding-shaped pottery not only continues the aesthetic qualities of earlier painted pottery but also nurtures the styles of early bronze vessels, representing a concrete manifestation of prehistoric cultural changes in the upper Yellow River region.

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