Pole End
Unknown Artist
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
L. 1 15/16 in. (4.9 cm); W. 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm); Diam. 15/32 in. (4.9 cm)
Classification
Metalwork
Culture & Period
China · Han dynasty (206 B.C.–A.D. 220)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. George Nichols, 1961
Accession Number
61.229.2
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art collection, *Pole End* is a delicate bronze artifact from China's Han dynasty (206 B.C.–A.D. 220). Measuring just under 2 inches long, this small metalwork piece—likely a finial or decorative cap for the end of a pole, staff, or banner—exemplifies the era's masterful bronze craftsmanship. Donated in 1961 by Mrs. George Nichols, it invites us to glimpse the refined artistry of ancient China. The Han dynasty marked a golden age of innovation, stability, and cultural flourishing after centuries of warfare. Bronze, a hallmark material, was cas...