Pair of bronze animal mask ring-handles
The collection catalog number for this pair of bronze animal mask ring-handles is NMNS000876, which were identified as works from the Warring States Period when they entered this museum’s collection. Each weighs 244 grams and measures 12.7 centimeters in length, 8.9 centimeters in width, and 4.8 centimeters in thickness. Ring-handles refer to the decorative rings on a door. On the front is an animal mask, in the shape of a lion’s face, snake, or turtle, with a ring underneath. Behind and below the mask protrudes a tenon, which is used to attach to a wall or vessel. In addition to being used as door knockers, these ring-handles are used as handles for bronze vessels, and as decorations for wooden coffins and tables. The latter were usually made in sets of four.
The most prominent feature of this pair of animal mask ring-handles are the large, bulging, glaring eyes. There appear to be two pairs of curved horns on the head. At the bottom of the horns is a pair of pig ears, decorated with scale-like patterns. On both checks is an S-shape from below the eyebrows. From the corners of the mouth and hooked on the fangs is a snake with a triangular head.
In the Classic of Mountains and Seas, there often mentions of celestial beings with snakes hanging from their ears or birds. Yuqiang with the body of a bird, as described in the Classic of the Great Wilderness: North volume, Yanzi and other divine birds as described in the Classic of the Great Wilderness: West volume, and Buting Huyu as described in the Classic of the Great Wilderness: South volume have ears that are two green snakes and feet that are two green snakes. In the Classic of the Regions Beyond Seas: East volume, Yu Shiqie, the Rain Master Consort, holds a snake in each hand. She has a green snake in her left ear and a red snake in her right ear. Some say that this is shaman who uses snakes to pray for rain. In addition, Shebishi have the body of a beast, a human face, large ears, and two green snakes in their ears. Here “shi” refers to a person or beast whose soul is not extinguished upon being killed. This pair of animal-mask ring-handles on display have snakes hanging from the ears, with the head of the snake hooked on the fangs. This may be a symbol of the cycle of death and rebirth or a metaphor for ridding of toxins.
