"Mao Kung" Ting
Late Western Chou Dynasty
(ca. 9th-8th century B.C.)
Height:         53.8cm
Mouth diameter: 47.9cm
Weight:         34705g
     The hemispherical bowl
is   supported  by  three 
cabriole legs.  The decor 
consists of one band below 
the rim filled with large 
scale-patterns alternating 
with heart-shaped patterns. 
This precious vessel gains 
its fame  from  the  long 
inscription    of    497 
characters  on the inner 
surface  of  the  vessel. 
The content of the inscrip-
tion  records  that  when
Hsuan Wang first ascended
to the throne, he appointed 
the Duke of Mao prime min-
ister,  in order that the 
Duke  of  Mao might  aid in 
the  reform  of  the  Chou
government. Because of his 
gratitude  for  the  king's 
great  favor,  and  as  a 
document  for  his  heirs, 
Duke Mao had this precious 
ting cast.