Every museum visitor’s worst nightmare is to accidentally stumble across a priceless masterpiece or come to know a precious artifact. Unfortunately, this terror came true for an unlucky visitor to the Minneapolis Institute of Art, who tripped and damaged an ancient Chinese zunor wine vase, in the shape of an owl.
The charming bronze, which dates from the 12th or 13th century BCE, is known as the Pillsbury Owl. No one was injured in the incident, which took place on April 9, and the exhibit was immediately removed for assessment and safekeeping. It will undergo conservation and repair work, although it is unclear how long this will take, according to a statement released by the museum.
The object had been perched at the entrance to “Eternal Offerings: Chinese Ritual Bronzes”, a special display of 150 bronze vessels associated with ritual and ancestral worship and power in ancient Chinese society. It was conceived by art director and Oscar-winning director Tim Yip.
The Shang dynasty zun would once have been used to hold wine to serve as a ceremonial offering to the ancestors. Its animal appearance is very characteristic of the period. It was bequeathed to the museum in 1950 by industrialist and philanthropist Alfred F. Pillsbury, whose prolific collection of Asian art served as the basis for the next exhibition.
For the rest of the exhibition until May 21, visitors will be greeted at the door by a set of bronze-winged dragons from the 5th or 4th century BCE, which have left the second gallery.
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