Minneapolis Institute of Art

Phoenix

China

Date

2nd-1st century BCE

Medium

Gilt bronze

Department

Asian Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

The mythical bird called the phoenix ( ch'u-niao ) evolved during the late Bronze Age and became a prominent art motif by the western Han dynasty (206 BCE- 9 CE). It was associated with the color red and represented the direction south. Eventually, the creature came to represent female royalty and, along with the dragon, symbolized the Chinese court. How this charming bronze was used remains a mystery. A gilt bronze vessel made in the form of two cups joined by a phoenix like this one was discovered in 1968 in the 113 BCE tomb of Princess Tou Wan at Man-cheng, Hopei province. It is possible that this luxury object may have acted with others like it as supports for a metal or lacquer vessel placed in a royal burial. China, Asia

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