In 1972, the Asian collection of the British Museum was replenished with two important artifacts - a pair of bronze vessels for wine, discovered in the Chinese city of Huixian (Henan Province). The appearance and manufacturing technology indicate that the objects were made around the 5th century BC. BC e. in Houm (Shanxi Province), where the production of cast bronze was developed during the Eastern Zhou period.
Both vessels are identical in size and almost perfectly preserved, except for a few minor damage to the lower part. The surface is decorated with an ornate pattern of interlacing stripes, separated by lines in the form of ropes. At the very bottom, the stripes form Taotie faces. In the ornaments of the Zhou era, images of these monsters are often found. Taotyo is associated with a religious Shan cult that practiced human sacrifice. Until now, there is no consensus on what these faces symbolize. The handles are made in the form of tigers with upturned heads.
There is an inscription on the lid, which says that the Minister of State Zhao Meng ordered to cast these vessels on the occasion of a meeting with the ruler of the kingdom of Wu. The meeting was probably planned for the purpose of forging an alliance, and both bronzes were made to celebrate the agreement between the two states.
