Xia dynasty(2070-1600 BC)
Height 45.3cm. Mouth Diameter 25 cm

Jia vessel had appeared no later than 5,000 BCE in the Yiluo(Yi river and Luo river) area of present Henan province, served as the food container for the people then. Whilst bronze Jia vessel appeared at Erlitou, Yanshi, Henan, 1,500 BCE, and served for different purposes, mostly as a wine vessel. With wide flaring mouth, and two umbrellas-shaped short columns standing on the rim, this bronze jia has three bands of bowstrings and nipple patterns on its central part which is amounted on a bulging belly, and three triangular hollow legs, as well as an arched handle. Few bronze jia vessels have been found at Erlitou site, thus this example is of great importance for the study on the origin of bronze wares.

Donated to Henan Museum