Gui food vessel

China

12th century BCE

Bronze

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Stylized animal motifs—dragon, snake, cicada, ram, owl, tiger, elephant—predominate in Shang bronze decor. Still, the taotie mask typically dominates the largest or most important register of nearly all Shang bronzes. This exquisite food bowl has three such masks clearly cast in high relief encircling its cauldron. Below each mask, in the foot band, are two confronting dragons shown in profile, while four similar dragons appear above each mask in the top decorative band. The exact meaning of the taotie mask is unknown. Gallery G214 Bequest of Alfred F. Pillsbury