Lime Vessel in the Form of a Cock
Unknown Artist
500 BCE–300 CE
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
H. 3 1/8 in. (7.9 cm); W. 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm); L. 4 11/16 in. (11.9 cm)
Classification
Metalwork
Culture & Period
Indonesia (Java, Lumajang, Pasiran) · Bronze and Iron Age period
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Samuel Eilenberg Collection, Bequest of Samuel Eilenberg, 1998
Accession Number
2001.433.519
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite bronze lime vessel, crafted in the form of a rooster, hails from ancient Java in Indonesia, specifically the Lumajang-Pasiran region, during Bronze and Iron Age ( BCE–300 CE). just 3⅛ inches tall, this diminutive metalwork masterpiece exemplifies the sophisticated casting techniques of early Southeast Asian artisans. The rooster's alert posture, with detailed feathers, comb, and wattles, captures the bird's vigilant spirit, transforming a utilitarian object into a lively zoomorphic sculpture. Lime vessels like this were essential for betel-chewing rituals, a widespread cultural...