Period: Erlitou culture (ca.2100-1700 B.C)
Measurements: H.19cm, Mouth Dia.6.3-9.5 cm
Provenance: Unearthed at the Yucun site of Dengfeng in 1953

Of an oval mouth with an extended upward pouring spout, and a “short tail” at the other end. The vessel features a slender contracted waist, a flat bottom, and three conical legs. One side of the vessel applied with strap-formed curved handle which was carved with geometric pattern.

White pottery vessels emerged in the late Neolithic Age, gained popularity in Xia and Shang times, and faded out after the Western Zhou dynasty. Due to the hard texture, clean and graceful surface, as well as the meticulous craftsmanship, the white pottery became exclusive to the then-nobles.

The Yucun site, excavated in 1953, dating back to Longshan culture and Erlitou culture period, is the earliest Erlitou culture site thus far discovered in China, it has yielded varied pottery vessels including Dou, Li, tripod Ding, and other objects such as weaving wheel, and damaged stone knife, etc. Most of the pottery vessels are plain, apart from few of them embellished with designs of square, bow string, and cord.