Gold Bottle with Cloud and Phoenix Pattern-Capital Museum

The ninth year in the reign of Xuande in Ming Dynasty (1434)
Height: 13 cm, Rim Diameter: 4.7 cm, Bottom Diameter: 8.9 cm
Unearthed from the tomb of Dong Si in Haidian District, Beijing

This bottle has a wide mouth, a long neck, a bulging belly and a flat bottom. It is fully adorned with a scroll pattern on the mouth rim, a smaller cloud and phoenix pattern on the neck, and a big cloud and phoenix pattern on the belly. It has a simple shape with a graceful outline and rich, elaborate patterns. The inscription on the outer bottom marks its maker, the year of production, its weight, and the purity of the gold.