Artwork preview

Chimera (Bixie) (a); magnifying glass (b)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Gold figurine of a mythical creature with the body of a lion, the head of a goat, and the tail of a serpent. The creature has a large head with a beard, two curved horns protruding from its forehead, and a snarling expression. It has a large spherical body with wrinkles, four legs, and a long curved tail. There are two large holes in the body, one on the side and one on the back. The figurine sits on a gradient gray background that is dark at the top and light at the bottom.

Artwork details

Date:
1st century (a); 20th century (b)
Medium:
Gold (a); glass, tortoise shell case (b)
Culture:
China
Dimensions:
600 × 450 px
Museum record:
View original
Palette