Jar

49-14-10

From: China

Curatorial Section: Asian

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Object Number 49-14-10
Current Location Collections Storage
Culture Chinese
Provenience China
Period Shang Dynasty
Date Made Shang Dynasty
Section Asian
Materials Clay
Iconography Owl
Description

Black ware. The owl-head cover fits over the neck of the jar. Head, feathers, etc. deeply carved. 1 foot damaged. The owl seems to have been the totem of the Shang rulers. It was severely rejected by the succeeding (Zhou) Dynasty which considered it an emblem of evil-- as it has been ever since. It is a familiar form for ritual bronzes of the Shang.

Credit Line Bequest of Julia Morgan through brother Hugh Morgan, 1949

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