A Tested Fine and Rare Very Large Taotieh Mask-and-Ring Architectural Fitting, Warring States/ Han Dynasty (of the period).

Taotieh fitting of a type associated with the Warring States period and the Han Dynasty. A similar fitting was found in one of the Changsha Chu state tombs, where it was identified as a Warring States knocker.
Some tomb doors of stone have been found that are adorned with carved depictions of taotieh knockers, rather than the actual metal fittings. The fierce imagery of the taotieh was common among ancient Chinese art, serving to ward off evil. As such, its presence on a door would seem a sensible means of preventing evil from entering the tomb.
Taotieh masks come in many varieties, often loosely based on a real animal which can generally be identified by its ears and/or horns. Though the horns of these two taotieh fittings curl in a slightly different manner from the usual form, the masks appear to depict a type of bighorn sheep known as an argali.

Microscopic, Mineralogical, and Metallographic reports available.

Dimension: 9" (22.9cm) high with ring.

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