Day 110 - Bronze hook?
December 14, 2018
Gallery 244 is the first of a series of galleries that center on Southeast Asia. A caption speaks of the strong religious and other cultural ties between Southeast Asia and India, since Indian traders en route to China sometimes stopped off in Southeast Asia, married local women, and settled there.
This gallery is devoted to the art of prehistoric Southeast Asia. It contains many small bronze and earthenware objects dating from 500 B.C. E. to about 300 C.E. None of these objects seems -- to me, anyway -- to be associated with Hinduism or Buddhism. But they have several things in common with early works from other cultures: a profusion of battle axes, geometic designs, and figures of humans, animals, and beings that seem to combine human and animal characteristics. Imaginary animals, too -- I take note of a 1st-3rd century bronze incense burner with a spout in the form of the elongated neck and head of a dragon. Made in Vietnam, it would seem to reflect Chinese influence.
I chose today's object because it makes me smile. About 3 inches high, also of bronze and also made in Vietnam, it appears to be a hook - at least that's what the Met calls it with a question mark -- in the shape of a human or a monkey. I would say both. The little figure seems to be standing with its hands on its hips in a very human gesture- - challenging us, daring us, defying us. But its face, with its flattened nose and gaping mouth, seems pretty simian. In any case, it's nice to think that the hook's maker wanted to adorn this everyday object - and that he had a sense of humor!
This gallery is devoted to the art of prehistoric Southeast Asia. It contains many small bronze and earthenware objects dating from 500 B.C. E. to about 300 C.E. None of these objects seems -- to me, anyway -- to be associated with Hinduism or Buddhism. But they have several things in common with early works from other cultures: a profusion of battle axes, geometic designs, and figures of humans, animals, and beings that seem to combine human and animal characteristics. Imaginary animals, too -- I take note of a 1st-3rd century bronze incense burner with a spout in the form of the elongated neck and head of a dragon. Made in Vietnam, it would seem to reflect Chinese influence.
I chose today's object because it makes me smile. About 3 inches high, also of bronze and also made in Vietnam, it appears to be a hook - at least that's what the Met calls it with a question mark -- in the shape of a human or a monkey. I would say both. The little figure seems to be standing with its hands on its hips in a very human gesture- - challenging us, daring us, defying us. But its face, with its flattened nose and gaping mouth, seems pretty simian. In any case, it's nice to think that the hook's maker wanted to adorn this everyday object - and that he had a sense of humor!
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