Pole finial
Pole finial
Published 2018-10-18T09:42:02+00:00
Ancient Chinese bronze pole finial, 12th-11th century BCE, now in the collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Art.
From the finial’s description on artsmia.org:
“A combination of four masks appears on this bronze finial, which originally adorned the end of a pole. A forceful taotie (composite animal) mask with downward-facing C-shaped horns appears on one side of the top. This monster’s face forms a mask on a human head; it has the broad nose typical of early masks. On the other side, a ram’s head, with horns turned down, bites on a head resembling a taotie. This remarkable work demonstrates that men wore zoomorphic masks in ritual ceremony.”
More information:
https://collections.artsmia.org/art/962/pole-finial-china
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This object was scanned by the Minneapolis Institute of Art
Date published | 18/10/2018 |
Title | Pole finial |
Date | 12th-11th century BC |
Dimension | 14.7cm × 10.8cm × 10.2 cm |
Accession | 50.46.29 |
Period | Ancient |
Medium | Bronze |
Credit | Bequest of Alfred F. Pillsbury |
Record | https://collections.artsmia.org/art/962/pole-finial-china |
Artist | Unknown artist |
Place | Minneapolis Institute of Art |