Frontlet

Art Historical Context

This exquisite bronze frontlet, hailing from China's mid-Western Zhou dynasty (6–771 B.C.), exemplifies the era's mastery of metalwork. Measuring just 8¼ inches high and 3½ inches wide, this compact yet striking piece—likely a decorative mask for a horse's forehead in elite chariot harnesses—features the intricate motifs typical of Zhou bronzes. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 8, it now graces the Asian Art galleries of the Metropolitan Museum of. During the Western Zhou, bronze casting reached its zenith, using sophisticated piece-mold techniques to create ritual objects symbolizing powe...