These Kimbell Art Museum lectures, part of a continuing series, introduce the permanent collection and selected exhibitions on view at the museum.

In ancient China, bronze vessels were used in rituals involved with communication with ancestors or gods. The belief that these spirits had the ability to influence events on earth meant they had to be appeased with offerings of food and drink. In addition to being used in these ceremonies, bronze vessels were often included in tombs, functioning as important burial goods and ensuring the continued power and authority of their owners.

This lecture will discuss the manufacture, iconography, and use of the Kimbell’s Gu Wine Vessel in this context.