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Three bands of decoration cover the belly of this urn that stands on a flared base and contracts at the neck. The decorative bands that are spaced over the belly of the urn represent shapes of abstracted animals intertwined in a swastika-like design. From the neck, the urn slightly extends outward with half-inch wide decorative band applied just below the ridge of the mouth. Both sides of the shoulder have animal shaped handles with rings attached. Known as taotie, these images of a mystical tiger/dragon/bird creature date back to ancient times as the motif evolved into becoming a standard feature of bronze décor. The taotie pattern assures that the powers of the animal world have been correctly ritualized.
Antiquities
Ancient Asian
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