Disk with dragons

14th–early 15th century

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 219

This disc either may have been used as inlay to decorate another a piece of furniture or a screen, or functioned as an independent work of art. Known as chihulong, the four snakelike dragons—two large, two small—prowling along the surface are identifiable by their long, narrow necks, the raised lines across their backs, and their branching tails.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Provenance

Exhibition History

References

元末明初象牙雕螭龍圓牌
Title: Disk with dragons
Period: Late Yuan (1271–1368) or early Ming (1368–1644) dynasty)
Date: 14th–early 15th century
Culture: China
Medium: Ivory
Dimensions: H. 10 1/8 in. (25.7 cm); Diam. 4 9/16 in. (11.6 cm)
Classification: Ivories
Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1919
Object Number: 19.190a, b
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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