ASSEMBLÉS, LES ÉLÉMENTS: CHINE, DYNASTIE HAN (206 AV. J.-C.-220 AP. J.-C.)

During the Warring States period and the Han dynasty, the zun vessel was used for keeping wine warm. Evidence of its function is found in the inscription on a bronze zun from the late Western Han dynasty, which reads "Zhongling Hufu wenjiu zun," translated as "This zun was made for Hufu of Zhongling to keep wine warm", illustrated in Zhongguo Qingtongqi Quanji (Complete Collection of Chinese Bronzes), Beijing, vol.12, 1996, pl.37. Zun vessels were often adorned with lavish decorations, including gemstone, gold, and silver inlays such our present exemples. See a mid-Warring States period zun with gold and silver inlays, in the Hubei Provincial Museum, also featured in the same publication, vol.10, p.51.