AMPHORA WITH DRAGON-SHAPED HANDLES

Description This monumental-looking amphora has an ovoid body tapered at the base, with a barely visible foot. The neck is high and thin, with four raised rings in the center and the shoulder attachment underlined by a prominence. The opening is shaped like a cup with a thick lip. From here, two symmetrical handles in the shape of dragons (perhaps horned felines) branch off from the shoulder, grasping the rim of the cup with their front legs and biting it. In correspondence of the amphora's shoulder, on each side, is applied a zoomorphic mask (pushou) depicting the same creatures of the handles. The shape of the Chinese amphora comes from Roman-era silver and glass products imported from the Near East and Central Asia. The dragon-shaped handles and cup-shaped opening testify to the adaptation of said products to Chinese taste.