Belt Plaque with Tigers and Dragon
Unknown Artist
2nd century BCE
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
H. 2 5/8 in. (6.7 cm); W. 5 1/2 in. (14 cm)
Classification
Metalwork
Culture
Mongolia and eastern Siberia
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene V. Thaw, 2002
Accession Number
2002.201.123
Tags
Art Historical Context
This striking bronze belt plaque, created in the 2nd century BCE, originates from the nomadic cultures of Mongolia and eastern Siberia. Measuring just over five inches wide, it exemplifies the portable metalwork prized by steppe peoples who valued durable, decorative items that could be worn during travel and battle. Such plaques often adorned the belts of warriors or leaders, serving both practical and symbolic purposes in societies where personal adornment conveyed status and identity. The plaque features dynamic imagery of tigers and a dragon, motifs that reflect the region's rich animal-s...