Tripod Container with Dragon-Head Handle (Zhadou)
500–600
- Medium
- bronze
- Dimensions
- Overall: 22.8 cm (9 in.); Diameter of mouth with rim: 15.5 cm (6 1/8 in.)
- Genre
- metalwork
- Museum
- Cleveland Museum of Art
Styles
Tags
China, Southern and Northern Dynasties period (386-589)
About
This dragon, winged chimera (CMA 1980.184 [http://www.clevelandart.org/art/1980.184]), and grotesque monster's face (CMA 1930.731 [http://www.clevelandart.org/art/1930.731]) exhibit uninhibited imagination in the representation of fantastic animals--all are full of energy, vigor, and magical power. Whether as purely sculptural forms or decorative elements of utilitarian vessels, they are characterized by a sensitive modeling of dynamic forms with the typical Chinese elegance of line.