Minneapolis Institute of Art

Yoke rattles in the form of a bird

China

Date

12th–11th BCE

Medium

Bronze

Department

Asian Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

These bronze rattles once crowned the ends of chariot yokes, playing both practical and symbolic roles within Shang chariot culture. Attached to vehicles drawn by horses, they animated movement through sound as the chariot advanced, heightening the presence and authority of its occupants. One example contains a pellet that produced a rhythmic rattle in motion, enhancing the sensory impact of ceremonial travel. Such fittings emphasize the importance of the horse and chariot as instruments of elite display, ritual performance, and controlled mobility. Integrated into the chariot’s structure, these rattles underscored how sound, movement, and horse power worked together to project status and command. China, Asia

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