Tripod (Ding)

A bronze ritual cooking vessel, a ding, stands on three hollow legs with two upright loop handles at the rim. A band of raised taotie masks in relief encircles the swelling body, and the surface shows blue-green patina.

Look closer: Small rounded knobs and casting seams on the lower legs, with the mask motifs repeating on each leg.

Artist

Unknown

Date

1000s BCE

Medium

bronze

Source

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Size

2343 × 3000 px

Credit (appreciated, not required for public-domain works): The Cleveland Museum of Art, Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund