Art of East Asia: Neolithic & Bronze Age China
Another of a very few pieces excavated in recent periods, this hu like
vessel is one of the very few examples of this ware known. Shang white ware
is of great interest to ceramic specialists. The designs are closely related
to the Bronze vessels but not so finely carved as the molds for the bronzes
must have been. Even so the ceramic technology of the Shang had reached
a very high level to attain and work with such difficult material (it is
a very "unforgiving" clay) and there is a consummate demonstration
of the mastery of the materials in the few pieces known.
