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Pair of Finials in the Shape of Mythical Beasts
Qin dynasty (221–206 BCE)
Not on view
From the fifth to the third century B.C., images of mythical animals began to appear in China that hinted at contact with nomadic peoples from the north and west. These two finials have beaks, wings, and powerful legs: a bird-quadruped hybrid likely connected to the Western griffin. They are inlaid with glass “compound-eye” or “dragonfly-eye” beads, an invention of the Warring States period (475–221 B.C.). Their hollow sockets imply use as ornaments on ceremonial weapons or staffs.
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