Bailer inscribed with the Character右
| Accession No. | R006870 |
|---|---|
| Period | Shang Dynasty |
| Material | Bronze |
| Findspot | Tomb No.1400 Hsi-pei-kang, Yin-xu Site |
| Geographic Location | Hou-Chia-Chuang village, Anyang, Honan province, China |
| Dimension | L. 31.5 cm; W. 16.5 cm; H. 10.5 cm |
Description
This bailer was found in Tomb No.1400 Hsi-pei-kang at Yin Xu site alongside a set of washing and bathing vessels; the set includes the Qin-hsiao-shi Yu (盂), a plate with a dragon motif and a ceramic scrubber (磢). The bailer has an oval-shaped bowl that is deep and wide, and a round hollow handle. It is designed to scoop up water. The vessel is undecorated but has an inscription of “右” on the handle. It is assumed that the character “右” was indicating the direction “right”. The object was manufactured by the piece mold casting technique and has evidence of the pour spout on the back of the handle. The bailer was found with the handle broken off from the bowl but was repaired after being excavated.