Get your item identified today! →

Chinese Archaic Bronze Forms

This reference page lists some of the most popular Chinese archaic bronze forms of the Shang and Zhou dynasties. Many of these bronze forms are based on earlier ancient ceramic examples and were also reproduced in later periods in other materials including porcelain and cloisonné. Illustrations on this page show only general shapes of vessels and omit the decoration. Most commonly found decorative motif on Shang and Zhou ritual bronze vessels is animal-like ‘taotie’ mask with large bulging eyes and curved horns. This list is by no means complete and includes only some of the most commonly used bronze forms of the Shang and Zhou dynasties.

Visit our Resources for Dealers and Collectors of Asian Art for more helpful reference pages.

Ding - Chinese archaic bronze form
Ding – round vessel with three feet, two handles and a cover. Originally used for cooking, storage and ritual offerings. Later examples traditionally used as incense burners.
Fangding - Chinese archaic bronze form
Fangding – square version of ding vessel with four legs, two handles and rectangular body. Use similar to ding vessels.
Gu – tall slim vessel with flared mouth and less pronounced flared base. Originally used as a ritual wine vessel.
Gui – circular bowl-shaped vessel standing on a round foot and with a pair – or two pairs – of opposing handles. Sometimes also with cover and additional base. Originally used as a ritual vessel for food offerings.
Hu – tall round vessel standing on a round foot and with pear-shaped body tapering to slightly flared rim. Often with twin handles on each side and sometimes also with a lid. Originally used as a ritual wine vessel.
Fanghu - Chinese archaic bronze form
Fanghu – square form of hu vessel, often with two or four ring handles in the middle section of the body. Use similar to hu vessels.
Jue – ovoid vessel standing on three splayed legs, with large U-shaped spout at the top and a similar shaped flange on the opposite side for balance. With loop handles on each side of the body and two vertical column-like features protruding at the top (probably intended for straps). Originally used as a ceremonial vessel or pitcher for serving warm wine.
Li or Li-ding – vessel similar to tripod ding but with three-lobed body that extends towards narrow short legs at the bottom. With slightly flared / everted rim and vertical loop handles at the top. Based on ancient ceramic form and used as a ritual food vessel.
Pan - Chinese archaic bronze form
Pan – ritual vessel in the form of a circular shallow water basin standing on a round foot and with upright loop handles on each side.
Xu – covered ritual food vessel of compressed oblong shape, standing on slightly spreading foot and with loop handles each side. Domed cover with protrusions that act as feet when it is taken off and turned upside down.
Zun – ritual wine container somewhat similar to gu vessel but wider, with a bulbous mid-section of the body supported on a tall spreading foot and with wide flared rim.
If you need further assistance with identification of unknown Chinese art and antiques, please contact us.

When you click links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Identification of Asian Antiques. Translation of Chinese and Japanese Porcelain Marks