A Mysterious Bronze Vessel

The bronze vessel shaped like an animal of the "xizun" type, which Count Karl acquired in China, is regarded as one of the rarest items in his collection. It was crafted in China circa 1350, during the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368). Researchers believe the depicted animal is a tapir. The vessel served as a wine container for ancestor worship.

Like many other bronzes acquired by Count Karl, this vessel was created in the tradition of early ritual bronzes. As early as the Shang dynasty (18th-11th century BC), bronzes were fashioned in the shape of animals, which were used as wine vessels and presumably also as incense burners. They were rediscovered from the Song dynasty (960-1279) onwards, at which point they began to be collected as art objects and served as inspiration for copies and new creations.