Wine Warmer (Zun)
Western Han dynasty (206 B.C.–A.D. 9), 2nd/1st century B.C.
China
China
This type of cylindrical vessel has been identified as a wine warmer (zun) through a similar inscribed example excavated in northern China. The vessel may have been used for a variety of foods or wines, but its short legs indicate that it was probably not designed to be placed over a fire. This metal shape was modeled after early boxes of lacquered wood that served as cosmetic containers (lian).
Gilt bronze