Mee Lee

Unknown

Well

private collection

This three-legged pottery vessel comes from the Erlitou site in Yanshi, Henan, dating to approximately 1750 to 1530 BCE, representing an important example of pottery from the late Xia to early Shang periods. The vessel is finely made of gray pottery, supported by three legs, with a rounded, bulging body and a sawtooth mouth rim, featuring a single curved handle. The surface is adorned with fine incised lines that enhance its decorative appeal. This vessel was primarily used as a cooking or water-holding tool in ancient times, embodying both practicality and ceremonial symbolism. It not only reflects the mature pottery-making skills and aesthetic style of the Erlitou culture but also serves as important evidence for exploring the daily utensils, ceremonial concepts, and the origins of Bronze Age civilization in China's earliest dynasties.

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