Lien (Cosmetic Container)
Title:Lien (Cosmetic Container)
Artist:Artist Unknown
Date:Eastern Han dynasty
Creation Place:Asia, China
Credit Line:Anonymous Gift
Accession Number:89.43.1a,b
The cover of this jar depicts sacred mountains populated with animals of Han mythology, mainly dragons, tigers and bears. Around the main register is a landscape scene with hunters on horseback pursuing wild animals. Lien jars were used to store small items, especially cosmetics. The mountain peaks seen here and on the po-shan-lu censer are inspired by popular Taoism and its fixation on immortality.