Artwork preview

Staff Finial with Bell Ring and Bird

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The sculpture "Staff Finial with Bell Ring and Bird" by Unknown Artist depicts a tall, vertically stacked arrangement of objects. The base is circular and flat, composed of multiple layers of rounded, flat objects resembling coins or leaves. Above the base, a thick, twisted metal rod rises, supporting the rest of the sculpture. A wide, rectangular metal bell is attached to the rod, featuring a central vertical line and what appears to be a faint design or pattern. Above the bell, a round metal object with a textured surface is positioned. Further up, a series of four smaller, rounded objects are stacked. The topmost object is a small, rounded figure with no discernible features. To the left of the round metal object, a small bird figure is perched. The entire sculpture is displayed against a light gray background.

Artwork Details

Medium
Nephrite
Culture
China
Dimensions
287 × 625 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette