Artwork preview

Oracle bone

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Oracle Bone by unknown artist is a light brown, curved piece of bone. The bone is long and thin, with one end narrower than the other. It has a rough texture and appears to be old and worn. The bone has several lines of writing on it, etched into the surface. The writing is small and intricate, and it is difficult to make out individual characters. The bone is set against a plain gray background.

Artwork details

Medium:
Inscribed bone
Culture:
China
Dimensions:
416 × 624 px
Museum record:
View original
Palette