Hu (Ritual Wine Jar), Han dynasty, 1st-2nd century. Stoneware with molded decor under a brown glaze, 31.75 x 24.13 cm. Minneapolis Institute of Art, Gift of Louis W. Hill, Jr., 73.46.7.

Late Zhou potters borrowed freely from ritual bronze vessel shapes. This is understandable because through most of the Shang (1523-1028 BCE) and Zhou (1027-256 BCE) dynasties, ceremonial bronzes constituted the highest art form. The taotie mask handles, molded animal designs and shape of this earthenware hu relate closely to a bronze hu in the Pillsbury collection.