Cleveland Museum of Art
Finial
- Date
- 475–221 BCE
- Medium
- bronze inlaid with gold and silver
- Culture
- China, Henan province, Jincun, Warring States period (475–221 BCE)
- Department
- Chinese Art
- Institution
- Cleveland Museum of Art
Chariots and weapons were associated with hunting and warfare in the ancient world. Those bronze fittings with lavish inlaid decoration were status symbols of rulers and high-ranking officials. This finial combines extravagance and ferocious beauty to reveal the aesthetics of the time. The birds with hooked beaks are above the intertwined serpent-dragons. Such artistic conception emphasizes the power of the bird in combat. Every facet of this finial is exquisitely crafted to give full play to the inlaid decoration. This finial is made to be placed on the top of a pole or staff.
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