Late Shang dynasty to early Western Zhou period BC1300-771

Square gui food container with Ya Chou emblem

Height: 18.5 cm, depth of belly: 11.72 cm

This gui food container has a square body, wide mouth, compact neck, high flared ring foot, and two handles. The body is surrounded by flanges. The neck and the longer sides of the ring foot are decorated with kui phoenix patterns; the belly is adorned with animal mask patterns; and the shorter sides of the ring foot are decorated with bird patterns. The background is filled in with cloud and thunder patterns. Reinforcing bars can be found on the underside of the vessel. At the bottom of the inner surface of the vessel, the clan mark, "Ya Chou," can be seen.