Artwork preview

Belt Buckle with Animal-Combat Scene

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Rectangular belt buckle with rounded edges. The buckle features a design with a large animal on top and a smaller animal on the bottom. The large animal faces left; it has a long snout and long horns that curl up and back. The horns have a rounded, knobby appearance with 5 lobes on each. The animal's body is smooth with minimal detail; its mouth is open. The smaller animal faces right; it appears to be a quadruped with its front legs extended forward. The two animals appear to interact. The buckle is made of a dark-colored metal with a green patina. The background of the image is purple. The buckle appears to be an old, possibly ancient, piece by artist unknown.

Artwork Details

Date
3rd–2nd century BCE
Medium
Bronze
Culture
North China
Dimensions
599 × 394 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette