About this artwork
Animal-shaped vessels are the rarest of all Shang ritual bronzes. This creature is a fascinating blend of alert poise and solemn dignity. Whereas the scaled pattern on the neck and tail of this bird suggests feathers, other details are fantastic rather than anatomical. A dragon in profile and a coiled serpent embellish each wing; monster masks crown the head as well as the removable lid on the bird’s back.
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Status
- On View, Gallery 131
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Department
- Arts of Asia
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Title
- Bird-Shaped Container (zun)
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Origin
- China
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Date
- Made 1200 BCE–1046 BCE
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Medium
- Bronze
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Dimensions
- H: 6 1/4" × W: 5 1/4" × D: 2 1/4" (15.9cm × 13.3cm × 5.7cm)
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Credit Line
- Lucy Maud Buckingham Collection
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Reference Number
- 1936.139
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IIIF Manifest
- https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/58159/manifest.json
Extended information about this artwork
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