Minneapolis Institute of Art

Recumbent water buffalo

China

Date

9th century BCE

Medium

Bronze

Department

Asian Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

This recumbent water buffalo probably served a utilitarian rather than ritual purpose. The holes in the back suggest it was originally some type of support and part of a larger grave object. The decor of broad abstract bands against a ground of threadlike spirals combines elements from both late Shang (c. 1300–c. 1046 bce) and Western Zhou casting. China, Asia

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