Mee Lee

Unknown

Well

private collection

This "Majiayao Culture Sanchang-type Tripod Wine Vessel" was made during the late Neolithic Majiayao culture in China (approximately 2500 to 2000 BC) and serves as a physical testament to the advanced prehistoric society of the upper Yellow River region. In the Majiayao period, the proportion of painted pottery decreased, while the utility forms of gray pottery and plain pottery significantly increased in weight and practicality, gradually revealing signs of social stratification and functional differentiation.

This vessel is exquisitely crafted, featuring a tripod support structure that can securely hold liquids and is suitable for heating over a fire. It has a handle on the spout for easy lifting and pouring, a short, slender vent at the lid for ventilation, and an opening on the side to facilitate the flow. Although it lacks painted decoration, its overall proportions are balanced, simple yet refined. Such vessels were often used for holding wine and in ritual or banquet contexts, demonstrating both practical life needs and possibly embodying aspects of primitive rituals and religious activities.

The pottery of the Majiayao types reflects the technological characteristics of the transition from late painted pottery to the bronze age and changes in social structure. This tripod wine vessel is a rare material evidence of the craftsmanship, customs, and daily life of the late Majiayao culture, providing valuable insights into the diverse developmental context of prehistoric civilization in China.

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