Mee Lee

Unknown

Well

private collection

The "Longshan Culture Tripod Ceramic Vessel" was excavated from the late Neolithic period in China (approximately 2500-1900 BC) and belongs to the Longshan Culture of the middle and lower Yellow River regions. The Longshan Culture is a critical period in ancient China transitioning from clan society to class society, marked by its highly developed black pottery craftsmanship and evident social stratification, significantly influencing the later formation of Central Plains civilization and the ancient state system.

This piece is a typical tripod vessel used for cooking, featuring a round, bulging body, a wide shoulder, and three hollow long legs that allow the vessel to be placed directly over a fire for heating, symbolizing the cooking practices of primitive society. The surface displays regular impressed line patterns, with noticeable traces from the modeling process, showcasing the application of wheel manufacturing techniques. Although it is not as exquisitely thin and dark as the well-known eggshell black pottery of Longshan Culture, this type of thick-walled cooking vessel represents practical needs in daily life and religious rituals.

The development of tripod pottery, together with the high-footed black cups and bowls, are the most recognizable shapes of Longshan Culture, reflecting not only technological innovation but also containing the early seeds of social stratification and ritual systems in Central Plains society. This tripod ceramic vessel serves as a classic material testimony to the evolution of daily life and social organization in the Longshan Culture.

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