Used to contain cooking or containing ritual foods
The body is rectangular parallelepiped with 2 U-shape handle and 4 legs spreading outward. The body is casted with dragon-transforming plants and leaves, folding patterns and a Chinese inscription:
御製
倣其器法其人邦雖舊命維新百世子孫萬載遵循
明命己亥
倣周文王鼎
Literal Translation:
Made by the Emperor
Adapted from the items of the old age. Though the country is old, the fate is renovated. Generations of descendants need to follow.
Minh Mang, Ky Hoi Year
Adapted from the Wen-wang cauldron of Zhou Dynasty.