{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O12693"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O12693/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BF5258/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BF5258/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006BF5258","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017JV9611","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O12693/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O12693","accessionNumber":"M.3-1935","objectType":"Vessel","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"The distinctive three-lobed shape of this bronze vessel, in Chinese called a <i>li</i>, derives from a ceramic type produced since the Neolithic period (ca. 5000-1700 BC). In the Bronze Age the <i>li</i> had handles along the rim and was used as a ritual vessel. The surface of this example is decorated with a simple design of spiral shapes and pairs of protruding eyes, separated by raised vertical flanges. The simplicity of the pattern suggests that the vessel was made relatively early in the Bronze Age, around the 14th-13th century BC, and possibly in the Shaanxi region, away from the metropolitan centres. \r\n\r\nBronze vessels were considered an important symbol of status during the Shang dynasty (about 1600-1050 BC) and were buried in the graves of their owners. The cost, craftsmanship and labor required to produce these items further emphasises their value. The artisans had to first make outer moulds composed of several sections around a prototype of the finished bronze and then reproduce the patterns in reverse on the surface of the sections. They would then assemble the moulds around a core leaving a space between the outer and inner parts into which melted bronze would be poured. Once the bronze had solidified, the outer moulds and the inner core were removed.","physicalDescription":"Bronze vessel (li) with three-lobed body, everted rim and two vertical loop handles, standing on three partially hollowed legs. The surface is decorated with spiral shapes and pairs of protruding eyes separated by vertical raised flanges.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"bronze","id":"AAT10957"}],"techniques":[{"text":"casting","id":"AAT53104"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Cast bronze","categories":[{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Ceremonial objects","id":"THES48981"},{"text":"Archaeology","id":"THES48874"},{"text":"Death","id":"THES48970"}],"styles":[{"text":"Shang","id":"AAT18356"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2006BF5258","2017JV9611"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"44 (VA)","id":"THES49802"},"free":"","case":"CA9","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Food vessel (li)","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"China","id":"x29398"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1400 BC-1200 BC","earliest":"-1400-01-01","latest":"-1200-01-01"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Purchased with Art Fund support, the Vallentin Bequest, Sir Percival David and the Universities China Committee","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"26","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Met, China, vess/cont/holders","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"<i>Catalogue of a Collection of objects of Chinese art</i>, London, Private Printing for the Burlington Fine Arts Club, 1915","id":"AUTH357078"},"details":"F.8, pl.XXVI","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"spirals","id":"AAT163114"},{"text":"動物 (紋飾)","id":"CIT288652"},{"text":"獸首","id":"CIT279828"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Food vessel (li)\r\nShang dynasty\r\n1450-1250 BC \r\n\r\nAll ancient bronze vessels had a specific name. This one, with three hollow legs, is called a li.\r\n\r\nCast bronze\r\n\r\nMuseum no. M.3-1935","date":{"text":"2007","earliest":"2007-01-01","latest":"2007-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["M.3-1935"],"accessionNumberNum":"3","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1935,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-16","recordCreationDate":"1999-12-15","availableToBook":false}}