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Pair of Standing Bovines

Western Han dynasty (206 BCE–9 CE)

Not on view

Slightly taller than the cow, the bull stands out for its muscled shoulders and sturdier, more compact body. Both are realistic in depiction, with such naturalistic features as bulging eyes and wrinkled noses. Their horns are exaggerated crescents, and tiny triangular incisions across the surface of their bodies evoke the texture of cowhide. Their ears may have been cast separately and later joined to the bodies.

Pair of Standing Bovines, Bronze, China — Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

西汉铜牛两头

Title: Pair of Standing Bovines

Period: Western Han dynasty (206 BCE–9 CE)

Culture: China

Medium: Bronze

Dimensions: Each: H. 10 5/8 in. (27 cm); L. 16 1/8 in. (41 cm)

Classification: Sculpture

Credit Line: Lent by Guangxi Institute of Cultural Properties Preservation and Archaeology

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Asian Art at The Met

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