Ritual Altar Set
商周青铜礼器祭祀组
The only complete Western Zhou ritual altar set known outside China: a bronze table plus thirteen wine and food vessels used together in ancestor worship. Together they tell us exactly how a Zhou aristocratic family communicated with their dead.
Object Facts
- Period
- Shang–Western Zhou transition (1046–771 BCE)
- Date
- late 11th century BCE
- Medium
- Bronze
- Dimensions
- Table: H. 18.1 cm; W. 46.4 cm; D. 89.9 cm
- Held by
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
New York, USA - Accession
- 24.72.1–.14
Munsey Fund, 1931
Why it matters
Individual Shang-Zhou bronzes exist in many collections, but an intact set preserves something singular: the choreography of ritual. Without the full ensemble the grammar of early Chinese religion is lost.
How it travelled
Reportedly unearthed at Baoji, Shaanxi in the 1900s. It passed through the dealer C. T. Loo in Paris and reached the Met in 1931, funded by the Munsey bequest — at a time when Western institutions were actively competing for Chinese bronzes.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I see Ritual Altar Set?+
Ritual Altar Set is held by the The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, USA. Accession number 24.72.1–.14. Online catalogue record: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/76974.
When was Ritual Altar Set created?+
Ritual Altar Set dates to late 11th century BCE, during the Shang–Western Zhou transition (1046–771 BCE).
What is Ritual Altar Set made of?+
Ritual Altar Set is a altar with 13 ritual vessels executed in bronze, measuring Table: H. 18.1 cm; W. 46.4 cm; D. 89.9 cm.
How did Ritual Altar Set end up at the The Met?+
Reportedly unearthed at Baoji, Shaanxi in the 1900s. It passed through the dealer C. T. Loo in Paris and reached the Met in 1931, funded by the Munsey bequest — at a time when Western institutions were actively competing for Chinese bronzes.
Can I reuse the photograph of Ritual Altar Set?+
Yes. The The Met has released the image under Creative Commons Zero (CC0), so it is free for any use, commercial or non-commercial, with no attribution required (though attribution is appreciated).
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