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Tiger amulet
Title:Tiger amulet
Artist:Artist Unknown
Date:Shang dynasty
Creation Place:Asia, China
Credit Line:Bequest of Alfred F. Pillsbury
Accession Number:50.46.300.1
The two tiger amulets, bird hairpin, and finial decorated with a composite serpent human motif, although exceptionally rare, are products of a major Shang dynasty industry, bone carving. The stylized animals and conventional motifs found on bronze vessels are also encountered in carved bone suggesting similar emblematic purposes. All of these items were likely personal adornments rather than ceremonial objects.