Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

Ashmolean − Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

The Barlow Collection

A select catalogue of the Barlow collection of Chinese Ceramics, Bronzes and Jades by the University of Sussex (published Sussex, 2006).

The Barlow Collection by the University of Sussex

Publications online: 456 objects

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Ladle with taotie mask pattern

  • loan
  • Literature notes

    The piece is composed of several fragments of different date. The lugs and socket at the back would have been part of a harness, chariot or other fitting.

    The piece has a barrel-shaped bowl with vertical ribbing and a long flat handle with a horned animal mask (taotie) near the top, with ears sticking out as small flanges, another near the bowl, and two stylized dragon motifs and three raised bosses in between. The reverse is undecorated, but fitted with two lugs and has a circular socket for insertion of another material.
  • Details

    Associated place
    Asia China (place of creation)
    Date
    Zhou Dynasty (c. 1122 - c. 256 BC)
    Material and technique
    bronze
    Dimensions
    25 x 4 x 7.5 cm (height x width x depth)
    Material index
    Technique index
    formed cast
    Object type index
    No. of items
    2
    Credit line
    Lent by the Sir Alan Barlow Collection Trust.
    Accession no.
    LI1301.4
  • Further reading

    University of Sussex, and Arts and Humanities Research Council, The Barlow Collection, supervised by Regina Krahl, Maurice Howard, and Aiden Leeves (Sussex: University of Sussex, 2006), no. B5

Glossary

taotie

  • taotie

    Stylized monster mask decoration with prominent eyes and scrolling horns. The motif has been known since the 1100s. Its significance remains mysterious.

Location

    • currently in research collection

Objects are sometimes moved to a different location. Our object location data is usually updated on a monthly basis. Contact the Jameel Study Centre if you are planning to visit the museum to see a particular object on display, or would like to arrange an appointment to see an object in our reserve collections.

 

Publications online

  • The Barlow Collection by the University of Sussex

    The Barlow Collection

    The piece is composed of several fragments of different date. The lugs and socket at the back would have been part of a harness, chariot or other fitting.

    The piece has a barrel-shaped bowl with vertical ribbing and a long flat handle with a horned animal mask (taotie) near the top, with ears sticking out as small flanges, another near the bowl, and two stylized dragon motifs and three raised bosses in between. The reverse is undecorated, but fitted with two lugs and has a circular socket for insertion of another material.
Notice

Object information may not accurately reflect the actual contents of the original publication, since our online objects contain current information held in our collections database. Click on 'buy this publication' to purchase printed versions of our online publications, where available, or contact the Jameel Study Centre to arrange access to books on our collections that are now out of print.

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