Mee Lee

Unknown

Well

private collection

This "Han Dynasty Tripod Ceramic Ding with Beast Face Pattern" was made during the Han Dynasty in China (202 BC - 220 AD) and is a highly representative ceremonial and practical vessel of Han pottery. The ding was originally a heavy bronze vessel in ancient times, significant for ancestral worship, power, and ceremonial rites. By the Han Dynasty, some bronze ding evolved to ceramic forms, inheriting traditional religious rituals while integrating practical functions.

This vessel is completely made of gray pottery, featuring a round belly and three legs, equipped with dual handles and an original ceramic lid, combining both solemnity and structural practicality in its design. Its unique feature lies in the finely carved beast face pattern at the top of the legs, exuding an imposing presence, while red coloring adds a focal point, imbuing it with a mysterious aura of primitive beings. The belly and lid are adorned with intricate geometric and line patterns, continuing the stylistic lineage of Zhou Dynasty artifacts, reflecting the Han Dynasty's reverence and continuation of ancient norms.

The Han ceramic ding served not only as a sacrificial vessel but could also be used practically for cooking or as a container. It is commonly found as burial goods in tombs, symbolizing the deceased's enjoyment of worldly glory and peace in the afterlife. This beast face patterned tripod ceramic ding embodies the artistic style and spiritual beliefs of the ceremonial society during the Han Dynasty, serving as an important tangible relic for studying Han material culture, religion, and aesthetic concepts.

None