Ancient triple bronze steamer

Have you ever used a multi-burner stove? This cooking wonder from more than 3,000 years ago is the Fu Hao triple bronze yan. Over a meter long, it functioned as an ancient steamer capable of preparing three dishes at once. Three zeng on the top layer held food, three li at the bottom held water and three bi in the middle allowed steam to circulate.

Adorned with exquisite motifs and inscribed multiple times with the name of Fu Hao, wife of King Wu Ding of the Shang Dynasty (c.16th century-11th century BC), this bronze piece combines function with aesthetics.

Unearthed in 1976 at the Yinxu ruins in Henan, it is now housed at the National Museum of China.