Skip to comments.
Ancient Bronze Owl Damaged By Visitor to Minneapolis Institute of Art
ARTnews ^
| May 8, 2023
| Francesca Aton
Posted on 05/09/2023 2:59:57 PM PDT by nickcarraway
An ancient artifact was damaged when a visitor tripped at the Minneapolis Institute of Art last month, according to the StarTribune.
The Pillsbury Owl, a 12th- or 13th-century BCE bronze owl-shaped wine vessel, was at the entrance of the museum’s exhibition “Eternal Offerings: Chinese Ritual Bronzes” when the damage occurred on April 9. Shang-dynasty (ca. 1600–1046 BCE) aristocrats would have used the vessel in rituals offerings to honor their ancestors.
A museum spokesperson confirmed that the vessel has since been removed from the show for further assessment and conservation. The extent of the damage, as well as how long conservation efforts on the artwork will take, however, remains unclear.
No visitors or staff were harmed during the incident. The museum will “continue to monitor and enhance measures to prevent accidents”, according to spokesperson.
In the owl’s place now sits a set of bronze winged dragons from the 4th- or 5th-century BCE, which were already on view and moved from the second gallery of the exhibition.
TOPICS: Arts/Photography; Local News
KEYWORDS: bronzeage; ccp; china; francescaaton; godsgravesglyphs; minneapolis; pillsburyowl; shangdynasty
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-32 next last
To: nickcarraway
To: nickcarraway
3
posted on
05/09/2023 3:02:37 PM PDT
by
BenLurkin
(The above is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion, or satire, or both.)
To: nickcarraway
“But that’s a priceless Steinway!!”
“Not any more.”
4
posted on
05/09/2023 3:06:33 PM PDT
by
bakeneko
To: nickcarraway
wine vessel...aristocrats would have used the vessel in rituals offerings to honor their ancestors.Sounds like an excuse for throwing back a few.
5
posted on
05/09/2023 3:08:25 PM PDT
by
Bounced2X
(Boomer - I survived childhood with no bike helmet.)
To: nickcarraway
6
posted on
05/09/2023 3:20:20 PM PDT
by
ABN 505
(Right is right if nobody is right, and wrong is wrong if everybody is wrong. ~Archbishop Fulton John)
To: nickcarraway
At this point, it’s actually a relief to learn that this was caused by a simple tripping accident rather than vandalism. But I have to wonder how it was displayed. Usually objects are better protected.
7
posted on
05/09/2023 3:36:02 PM PDT
by
sphinx
To: nickcarraway
8
posted on
05/09/2023 3:50:38 PM PDT
by
Eagles6
(Welcome to the Matrix . Orwell's "1984" was a warning, not an instruction manual.)
To: nickcarraway
The Pillsbury Owl, a 12th- or 13th-century
BCE BC bronze owl-shaped wine vessel, was at the entrance of the museum’s exhibition “Eternal Offerings: Chinese Ritual Bronzes” when the damage occurred on April 9. Shang-dynasty (ca. 1600–1046
BCE BC) aristocrats would have used the vessel in rituals offerings to honor their ancestors...
In the owl’s place now sits a set of bronze winged dragons from the 4th- or 5th-century BCE BC, which were already on view and moved from the second gallery of the exhibition.
FIFY
9
posted on
05/09/2023 4:11:38 PM PDT
by
Fiji Hill
To: Eagles6
Auuuuugh! Lol!
It's rather cute, although it's much larger than I thought it was.
Bonus: Proof that they really did make Coke-bottle glasses.
10
posted on
05/09/2023 4:48:17 PM PDT
by
skr
(Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. - Proverbs 14:34)
To: nickcarraway
Minneapolis? I can imagine the visitors they have there. So yeah, no surprise it’s busted.
11
posted on
05/09/2023 4:50:49 PM PDT
by
moovova
("The NEXT election is the most important election of our lifetimes!“ LOL...)
To: nickcarraway
Was a “school group” involved?
To: nickcarraway
Kinda looks damaged to begin with. How can they tell?
13
posted on
05/09/2023 5:18:59 PM PDT
by
Libloather
(Why do climate change hoax deniers live in mansions on the beach?)
To: nickcarraway
The stuff dreams are made of.
14
posted on
05/09/2023 5:20:35 PM PDT
by
ought-six
(Multiculturalism is national suicide, and political correctness is the cyanide capsule. )
To: nickcarraway; StayAt HomeMother; Ernest_at_the_Beach; 1ofmanyfree; 21twelve; 24Karet; ...
Thanks nickcarraway.
15
posted on
05/09/2023 8:15:21 PM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
(NeverTrumpin' -- it's not just for DNC shills anymore -- oh, wait, yeah it is.)
To: ought-six
16
posted on
05/09/2023 8:18:08 PM PDT
by
BenLurkin
(The above is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion, or satire, or both.)
To: SunkenCiv
The owls of anguish at the museum were quite loud.
To: nickcarraway
I wonder how all the Art Snobs would react if a museum was absolutely ransacked by the Protestor Crowd and priceless works were destroyed???????
To: Fiji Hill
BCE is used by archaeologists. It means Before Christian Era.
19
posted on
05/09/2023 9:05:21 PM PDT
by
gitmo
(If your theology doesn’t become your biography, what good is it?)
To: gitmo
BCE is used by archaeologists. It means Before Christian Communist Era.
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-32 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson
