Chinese bronze taotie handles from the Han Dynasty, 206 BC-220 AD

• A beautiful matched pair of bronze handles with mask faces known as taoties. These taoties are characteristically shown with a forward facing and symmetrical visage. The ring handle is attached to the loop formed by the creature’s snout.
• These handles were most likely fixed on both sides to a wooden box in the tombe. I believe this when looking at the back how the handles were fixed via the holes. One has more oxidation then the other which makes it likely that they were on each side of the box or coffin.
• See also picture of a Northern Wei tomb in Qili village, Datong, Shanxi. This is from the yearbook, Major Archaeological Discoveries in China in 2021.

• Toatie > 饕餮

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