On loan to The Met The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.
Wine Container in the Shape of an Ox
Shang dynasty (ca. 1600–1046 BCE)
Not on view
The ox was regarded as the most prestigious of the sacrificial animals offered to deities and ancestor spirits in ancient China. A wine container
in the shape of the beast emphasizes its significant role in solemn and sacred rituals. Distinct in both form and ornamentation from classic
Shang prototypes, this sculptural vessel points to the existence of regional cultures that flourished beyond the Shang sphere of influence.
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