D13. Gourd-Shaped Jade Ladle (Ritual)

D13. Gourd-Shaped Jade Ladle (Ritual)  (Height: 15.8cm, Length: 23.3cm)

This jade ware is a ceremonial jade in ritual vessels. Its shape is related to bronze. During the Shang and Zhou dynasties, ceremonial vessels (including sacrificial and feasting drinking vessels, food utensils, and musical instruments.) The ladle in water vessels were only available after the middle of Western Zhou Dynasty. At this time, bronze ladles and pans were often unearthed in groups, and the inscriptions also began to call ladles and pans together; therefore, it can be seen that the ladles and pans are complete sets of washing utensils.

This jade ladle is the same as the bronze ladle, and it is also a royal ceremonial vessel, which is of higher value. Its mouth is wide and curved downward, which is easy to pour water and has a beautiful arc; the other side uses hippocampus-shaped handles as ears; There are high-relief "mastoid" -shaped bumps on the upper and lower edges of the vessel for decoration (eight on each side and one on the edge of the mouth); the four feet under the jade emboss are patterned with beasts for decoration;

It is embossed with a round cymbal body in the middle of both sides, and a large "mastoid" shaped bump is embossed in the center of the ridge, which is closely convex around the mastoid. (Can't see clearly), and the tiny embossed mastoid bumps on the inside of the ladle are extremely hard to see with human eyes. Such a micro carving has never been seen in history! But it happened in the dynasty more than 2,500 years, it is really a god-like work often said by the ancients!

The rim is a circle of light flanges, but it is painted with a circle of gilt gold for self-embellishment, but the gilt gold has gradually faded. And the embossed miniature characters and mastoid patterns of this micro-carving are extremely difficult in ancient times, which is really shocking! It's a world of extraordinary treasures. This is the treasure of the Zhou Dynasty! It is not something that the general public can enjoy!