Ritual quartz cup “Dragons and taotie masks”, Han dynasty

Cylindrical cup carved in crystalline quartz, with lid and three legs supporting the body. It features relief decoration composed of friezes of geometric patterns and taotie masks, as well as prominent figures of coiled dragons on the sides. The handle, the reliefs, and the design of the rim of the lid, evoke the form of ancient bronze ritual vessels. It shows traces of sedimentation and natural veins. Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD) or later.

 Height: 15 cm; Mouth diameter: 7.5 cm. Weight: 789 g