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Tripod (Ding)
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
Animal images in ritual bronzes served as symbolic messengers of the supernatural realms. Among others, the animal mask called taotie emerged as the most potent symbolic form. The formidable mask emanates a powerful presence with an unforgettable stare. It expresses an overwhelming feeling of mystery, representing a transcendent, supernatural concept in ancient ritual art.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit lineTripod (Ding), c. 1250–1046 BCE. China, Shang dynasty (c. 1600–c. 1046 BCE), Anyang phase (c. 1250–1046 BCE). Bronze; overall: 24.5 x 20 cm (9 5/8 x 7 7/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, John L. Severance Fund, 1962.281
