Bronze Yoke-Saddle Finials with Turquoise Inlays
| Accession No. | R015324_2 |
|---|---|
| Period | Shang Dynasty |
| Material | Bronze |
| Findspot | Chariot Pit No. 1136、1137 Hsi-pei-kang, Yin-xu Site |
| Geographic Location | Hou-Chia-Chuang village, Anyang, Honan province, China |
| Dimension | H. 6.21 cm; D. 4.08 cm; T. 0.38 cm |
Description
This bronze yoke-saddle finial is a part of a chariot, capping and decorating the distal end of the “人” shaped wooden yoke-saddle. The finial is a hollow cylinder that is narrow at the waist and broader at the top and bottom, with one end open. There are two holes on either side of the body for tying it in place. The top of the piece has been decorated with a hexagonal star, while the side of the body has been decorated with two bands of motifs, triangles and animal-masks. All of the above decorative patterns were created with turquoise inlays. The whole bronze object was created with the piece mold casting technique.