Chariot Pole Ornament with Ram's Head
Unknown Artist
4th century BCE
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
H. 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm); L. 7 3/8 in. (18.7 cm); W. 2 1/4 in. (5.7 cm)
Classification
Metalwork
Culture
Northwest China
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene V. Thaw, 2002
Accession Number
2002.201.56
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite bronze *Chariot Pole Ornament Ram's Head*, dating to the 4th BCE, hails from the ancient cultures of Northwest China. just over 7 inches long, this finely crafted metalwork piece once adorned the pole of a chariot, a symbol of elite status and military prowess in the region's nomadic and early state societies. The ram's head, rendered with striking realism—curled horns, alert eyes, and textured fur—evokes the animal's enduring symbolism of strength, fertility, and protection across Eurasian steppe traditions. Bronze was a pinnacle medium in ancient China, showcasing advanced lo...