Liu Ding, Late Shang Dynasty, c. 1100 BCE, bronze

This ritual bronze container from ancient China uses an image called a t’ao t’ieh. The t’ao t’ieh is a monster-like symmetrical image that is constructed of various stylized animal parts. In this image we can see the nearly round eyes on either side of the central ridge, with curling ram horns above and a moustache-like form near the bottom of the image.