Ancient Chinese (Unknown)

Ancient Chinese sculpture encompasses one of the world's longest continuous artistic traditions, stretching back over 3,000 years. The earliest major works are the bronze ritual vessels of the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600-1046 BCE), cast using sophisticated piece-mold techniques for ancestor worship ceremonies. These bronzes, decorated with stylized animal masks (taotie), rank among the finest metalwork of the ancient world.

Monumental stone sculpture emerged later, with the Mausoleum of Huo Qubing (140-117 BCE) marking an early milestone. The arrival of Buddhism via the Silk Road sparked a major sculptural flowering during the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420-589 CE), with cave temple complexes at Dunhuang, Yungang, and Longmen producing thousands of carved Buddhist figures. Our collection includes 5 works at institutions including the National Palace Museum and the British Museum.