Returned to lender The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.

Jar with Two Handles

China

Not on view

Two-handled jars are known from western Sichuan to the far southern province of Yunnan, excavated primarily from slate tombs located along rivers. They are believed to have been made by the Qiang, a tribal people likely from the northern steppes who traveled south to the Dian region, in present-day Yunnan Province. The present example is inlaid with bronze on its upper body and handles, indicating its exceptional status (plain examples are far more common). The twin handles reflect nomadic forms, while the metal inlays indicate the influence of sedentary agricultural societies to the southwest.

Jar with Two Handles, Burnished earthenware inlaid with bronze, China

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Open Access

As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes.

API

Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API.