Similar in form to the inscribed bronze covered ding (cat. no. 4), this gray clay version has a squat spherical body, three short cabriole legs, two solid square handles, and three solid comma-shaped handles or feet perched on the cover. While the body of the ding was wheel thrown, the legs and handles have been mold cast or hand modeled. Red-brown lacquer was applied to the outside and inside surfaces of the vessel after firing, creating a shiny metallic-like surface.[1] Some of the earliest fragments of pottery with red lacquer designs were excavated from Shang dynasty tombs.[2] Although never very popular in China, lacquered pottery continued to be manufactured through at least the Han dynasty. A number of Han tombs contained lacquered pottery with surfaces painted in red, red-brown, and black.[3]

This lacquered ding was excavated from Tomb M4 at Yinqueshan in Linyi county. One of two important Western Han tombs discovered in this area, M4 yielded twenty-one examples of lacquered vessels. The ding was accompanied by he covered boxes, hu vases, pan basins, and yi ewers.[4]