Lying Oxen Button Hoof Tripod

Bronze ware from the Spring and Autumn Period
11.3 cm high, 14.5 cm between ears. Excavated from Zhao Qing's tomb in Jinsheng Village, Taiyuan City in 1988. The lid is in the shape of a bowl, with a circular button in the middle. There is a circle in the button, which is used as a handle. There are three equally spaced standing cows around it, with their heads raised forward, horns, ears, noses and eyes clearly visible, lying on the ground, leisurely and comfortable. The body of the tripod is narrow, with inward-looking lips, square ears, slightly bulging belly wall, flat bottom, three hoof feet, slightly outward-turned, hollow feet. The lid of the tripod is decorated with rope patterns on the ring button and the circular ring, and the body of the cow is decorated with cone thorn patterns, which look like cow hair. The center is decorated with vortex patterns and triangular volute patterns. The lid and the body of the tripod are decorated with wide and narrow "C"-shaped coiled dragon pattern belts. The coiled dragon head has horns, and its body is entangled with each other, very tightly. The body of the coiled dragon is decorated with three parallel lines. The front of the body of the tripod is engraved with "S" patterns, and the sides are decorated with hook cloud patterns. The belly of the tripod uses a convex string pattern as the boundary pattern between the two groups of patterns. The base of the foot is engraved with animal face patterns.