Showing results
Hide images
Ningxiang Beifengtan Four-Tiger Large Nao (Four-tiger large bronze nao)
Well preserved. The colour of the whole body is earthy brown. It has a tubular rod named yong (handle) with a raised collar called xuan. The underside (wu) is flat and the two xian points are straight. The instrument has a wide body. The mouth (yu) is curved slightly. The main body features animal-mask motif formed by thick lines. The surrounding areas and the gu and yong are all decorated with cloud patterns. There are simple animal faces decorating the xuan. There are a total of four crouching tigers located inside the body near the two sides of the instrument; one tiger on each side. The tiger heads face upwards (toward the opening of the instrument); the length of each tiger is 9.3-9.5cm. This is the only instrument that has crouching tigers decorating the inside of the body. The purpose of this is yet to be confirmed.
- Date:
Late Shang dynasty - Maker:
- Collection:
Hunan Museum - Inventory number:
Loading... - Place of production:
China - Hornbostel-Sachs classification:111.242.11 (Individual) resting bells
- Culture:
- Period:
- Materials:Bronze
- Specific materials/techniques:
- Decorative elements:
- Inscriptions:
- Hornbostel-Sachs category:111.242.11 (Individual) resting bells
- Repository:Hunan Museum
- Measurements:Total height: 90.0cm, mid-body length: 50.0cm, weight: 109.0kg, horizontal diameter of the wu: 46.6cm, vertical diameter of the wu: 29.3cm, distance between the two xian points: 58.7cm, length of the xian: 55.1cm, thickness of the middle of the gu: 2.8cm, distance between the two sides of the centre of the gu: 40.2cm, length of the yong: 35.0cm, diameter of the top of the yong: 14.9-15.1cm, diameter of the bottom of the yong: 13.3cm