Archaic bow-shaped fitting, 12th-11th century BCE
Unknown artist, Chinaexpand_more
Bronzeexpand_more
The Donald McNeely Family Fund in tribute to Marjorie McNeelyexpand_more 2021.5
Not on Viewexpand_more
The fitting is cast roughly resembling a bow with a pierced spherical terminal in each end enclosing a loose ball. It was attached to the waist of a soldier driving a chariot, used as a cleat for tying the reins to leave his hands free for combat. The stylized cicada motif seen on the top of the fitting is meaningful. It was a favored motif during the Shang dynasty, perhaps due to the insect’s fascinating life cycle and ability to split its outer skin annually, thus a symbol of resurrection, rebirth and immortality.
Details
- Title
- Archaic bow-shaped fitting
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2021.5
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
Does something look wrong with this image? Let us know
Zoom in on the left to the detail you'd like to save. Click 'Save detail' and wait until the image updates. Right click the image to 'save image as' or copy link, or click the image to open in a new tab.