Collection Online
Food vessel

Food vessel
(Li 鬲)
11th century BCE-10th century BCE

Medium
earthenware
Measurements
16.1 × 17.8 × 16.9 cm
Place/s of Execution
north China, China
Accession Number
3894-D3
Department
Asian Art
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Felton Bequest, 1939
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of The Gordon Darling Foundation
Gallery location
Not on display
Physical description
Round, three bulbous legs tapering to points, impressed cord pattern over body. An ancient cooking vessel with three hollow legs to be filled with water which will boil when heated below. The boiling water in the hollow legs will boil and steam foods in a pot or container above it. It is the early form of steaming which is very popular in Chinese cooking. The present vessel was specially made for burial and for the use of the deceased in the afterlife.