Bronze jar from the Shang period

This small jar from the late Shang period (13th-11th century BCE), called a bu or pou, is made of bronze and served as a food container. It features sophisticated patterns and impressive ram heads on the shoulder.
The whole vessel is covered with patina, a thin layer that forms on the surface of bronze and similar metals like copper and brass. In this case, it gives the relic a mysterious green glow.