Cleveland Museum of Art

Crossbow Support

Date

300–200 BCE

Medium

bronze inlaid with silver

Culture

China, Warring States period (475–221 BCE)

Department

Chinese Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Here, the rectangular socket of the bow support tapers elegantly to form the slender neck of an animal head. Silver inlay of wires and ribbons form an extraordinarily beautiful abstract design consisting of sweeping lines, coils, spirals, and serpentine interlaces. Both the support for the crossbow and the inlaid silver pattern on the square socket resemble a bird's long neck and head.

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