Winged Dragon

This winged dragon was made in northern China during the Warring States period, an age of political rivalry and remarkable achievement in bronze casting. Monumental animal figures from the period have survived only rarely.

The creature combines the recognisable and the fantastic. Its long body twists, its feet seem to grip the ground and its raised wings gather the energy of imminent movement. The silhouette changes from every side, inviting the viewer to walk around it.

In Chinese culture, the dragon is associated not only with power, but with heaven, water and auspicious order. This sculpture preserves an early chapter in the long history of an image that would become one of China’s defining symbols.