唐 鎏金青銅粉盒|Cosmetic box
Unknown Artist
Medium
Gilt bronze
Dimensions
H. 1 1/16 in. (2.7 cm); Diam. 1 1/4 in. (3.2 cm)
Classification
Metalwork
Culture & Period
China · Tang dynasty (618–907)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Charlotte C. and John C. Weber Collection, Gift of Charlotte C. and John C. Weber, 1994
Accession Number
1994.605.42a, b
Art Historical Context
This exquisite gilt bronze cosmetic box hails from China's Tang dynasty (618–), a golden era of cultural flourishing, economic prosperity, and artistic innovation. Measuring just 1 1/16 inches and 1 1/4 inches in diameter, petite size suggests it was a personal, portable luxury item, likely used by elite women to store face powders or other cosmetics. The Tang period was renowned for its cosmopolitan vibe, influenced by Silk Road exchanges, which elevated everyday objects like this into symbols of refined taste and status. Crafted in gilt bronze—a technique where a thin layer of gold is appli...