‘Taotie’ Liding Ritual Food Vessel Shang Era Style

An archaic bronze style of ritual tripod liding from late Shang Dynasty, China(商青銅饕餮紋鬲). The taotie(饕餮) animal pattern engraved on this ding from the Shang dynasty features heads without bodies. There were several records appeared in the literary classic Zuozhuan (Zuo’s Commentary), and in another literary account, Lu Chunqiu (Lu’s Spring and Autumn Annals): Chapter of the Prophets. The term taotie had become synonymous with a legendarily ferocious and gluttonous beast of yore. Therefor, the engravings adorning ancient bronzes became known as “taotie engravings”. Early 20th century. Originally from China.

Bronze tripod liding(鬲鼎) were among the most significant ritual objects associated with authority and supremacy. Owners of such were of elite social status, such as high officials or clan leaders. Among the many variations, liding is a combination of round form of ding vessels and the distinct three-lobed body of li. It is for functional and ceremonial purposes, primarily used in cooking and serving food.

As a highly religious and ritualistic society, the Shang established their dynastic kingdom in northern China around 1600 BCE. The emperor served as the intermediary between his subjects, a powerful god known as Shang Di, and deceased ancestors that the Shang believed could intercede on their behalf. The extraordinary emphasis placed on ancestor worship and state ritual during the Shang dynasty necessitated the production of massive numbers of bronze vessels and ceremonial weapons. Specific types of bronze vessels for cooking, warming, or serving sacrificial offerings of food and wine were required for ceremonies designed to feed and appease ancestral spirits. Ritual bronzes and weapons were essential burial objects, for they represented the power and authority that the deceased intended to take with him into the afterlife.

Dimensions: 10″ x 10″ x 13″

*Relic piece. Sell in used, pre-owned condition. Vintage, old, antique to relic items by nature have variable amounts of wear, imperfections, signs of use, age and time. Perfectly imperfect. Condition shown as in pictures. Kindly contact us if you need more info. or detail pictures.