Vessels
1736-1820
Porcelain
Museum nos. C.17-1968, C.483-1910, C.526-1910, FE.99,100-1970

Porcelain vessels from the imperial altars, 1736 - 1820. The yellow one was one of eighty-four identical vessels used at the Temple of the Earth in north Peking to hold a variety of meat, vegetables or pickled offerings. The red one from the Temple of the Sun in the west of Peking and its pale blue compainion from the eastern Temmple of the Moon held wine. The deep blue one, again for food, si from the largest altar at the Temple of Heaven in the south of the capital. They are made in what were thought to be the shapes of much earlier bronze vessels also used in rituals of China's early history.