Transcription: In prehistoric times, animals were far more than a source of food. They were also symbols of mystical forces and as such they provided popular motifs for artists and craftsmen. On ritual bronzes of the Shang era, the most common decoration is an animal mask, also called the tautier motif. This design captures the face of a beast from a frontal view with open mouth and bared fangs. It is an image that strikes fear into the heart of the beholder. During the middle period of the Western Zhou Dynasty, animal masks were gradually replaced by phoenix designs. Craftsmen gave full expression to their ...
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