Ordos ceintuur applique twee bokken

About this artwork

height 6 cm x width 11.4 cm

Art Historical Context

This exquisite bronze belt applique, titled *Ordos Ceintuur Applique Twee Bokken* (Ordos Belt Applique with Two Goats), hails from the Ordos culture of northern China's Inner Mongolia region, dating to around 200–100 BCE. Crafted anonymously by nomadic artisans, this small yet striking piece measures just 6 cm high by 11.4 cm wide, designed to adorn belts or horse gear. Its compact size belies its role as a functional yet artistic accessory for steppe warriors and herders. The applique showcases two dynamic goats in a stylized "animal style" typical of Eurasian nomads, with sinuous bodies int...

About the Artist

anonymous

In the vast tapestry of art history, "Anonymous" stands not as a singular individual but as a collective designation for countless unidentified creators whose works have endured across millennia. These artists, spanning prehistoric cave painters to medieval illuminators and folk craftsmen, produced the foundational layers of human visual culture. Prior to the Renaissance, when individual fame emer...