Shang Bronze
Date1947
Maker
Morris Graves
American, born Fox Valley, Oregon, 1910; died Loleta, California, 2001
Label TextGraves imagined the emblems on ancient Chinese bronzes becoming re-animated, made monstrous and distorted in response to the evils of the modern world. In the collection of the Seattle Art Museum, this ancient ceremonial ax, a Qi, is decorated with a stylized serpent that, in Graves’ reinterpretation is a vicious, hissing snake, an embellishment befitting a weapon.
Object number97.21
Photo CreditPhoto: Elizabeth Mann
Exhibition HistoryIn chronological order:
Seattle, Seattle Art Museum, Asian Affinities, August 28, 1999-January 2, 2001.
Seattle, Seattle Art Museum, Morris Graves and Seattle, November 1, 2001-October 20, 2002.
Credit LineEstate of Dorothy C. Malone
DimensionsSheet: 13 1/8 × 9 1/4 in. (33.3 × 23.5 cm)
Mat: 25 1/8 × 7 5/8 in. (63.8 × 19.4 cm)
MediumInk and transparent and opaque watercolor on green-toned paper, now faded to tan
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