Hunting-motif Hu
Warring States Period 
(481-221 B.C.)
Height:            35.1cm
Mouth diameter:    12.3cm
Weight:             5215g
      This large, round-
bodied vase sits on a low 
ring foot. Animal masks in 
high relief on the shoulder 
of the vessel carry large 
metal ring-handles that 
pass through their noses.  
The decoration of the vessel 
comprises a total of six 
horizontal registers,  
alternately abstract 
ornament executed in metal 
inlay and pictorial units 
(probably in turquoise 
inlay, now lost). The band
around the neck shows
intertwined snakes and 
birds; the middle one on 
the shoulder shows scenes 
of hunting; the last band
contains hunting scenes 
again, and below them are 
repeated depictions of a bird 
figure with long crest and 
tail, standing upright and 
facing toward the sun.  The 
bird-like men below are 
similar to those appearing 
in a supernatural tale 
recorded in the Shan-hai 
Ching, a Han-dynasty 
compilation of early myths.