Cleveland Museum of Art

Kneeling Winged Monster

Date

550–77

Medium

limestone

Culture

China, Hebei province, northern Xiangtangshan caves, North cave, Northern Qi dynasty (550-577)

Department

Chinese Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

This kneeling monster from the cave-temple complex at Xiangtangshan was originally placed below some wall niches on the perimeter. With its grotesque face and body, it is among the most imaginative sculptures of the period. The hunched monster has three-fingered hands, four square teeth in center of its mouth, and two pairs of pointed teeth on either side.

The authoritative record is held by Cleveland Museum of Art. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.