Animal Mask (Taotie)
Asian Art
On View: Asian Galleries, West, 2nd floor (China)
One of the most common decorative motifs on ritual bronzes and jades is the taotie mask. The animal here has large bulging eyes with small eyebrows surmounted by horns. Between the eyes is a protruding nose, revealing the seams of the piecemolds, and below are menacing jaws and fangs. The name taotie was given to this monster mask in the later Zhou dynasty (circa 1050–256 B.C.E.) and translates as “glutton,” perhaps referring to its evocation of a devouring beast. The Northern Wei dynasty transformed the taotie mask, which is now depicted with a creature, part-human and part-demon, grabbing the horns of the beast.
MEDIUM
Bronze
DATES
ca. 6th century
DYNASTY
Northern Wei Dynasty
PERIOD
Northern Wei Dynasty
DIMENSIONS
width: 6 1/2 in. (16.5 cm) (show scale)
COLLECTIONS
Asian Art
ACCESSION NUMBER
2013.65
CREDIT LINE
Gift of Stanley J. Love and Mrs. Walter N. Rothschild, by exchange, Frank L. Babbott Fund, Museum Collection Fund, and Designated Purchase Fund
EXHIBITIONS
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is on view in Asian Galleries, West, 2nd floor (China)
CAPTION
Animal Mask (Taotie), ca. 6th century. Bronze, width: 6 1/2 in. (16.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Stanley J. Love and Mrs. Walter N. Rothschild, by exchange, Frank L. Babbott Fund, Museum Collection Fund, and Designated Purchase Fund, 2013.65 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2013.65_PS9.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, 2013.65_PS9.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2014
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