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Poly Art Museum - Beijing 保利艺术博物馆
Address: 1 Chaoyangmen Bei Dajie, New Poly Plaza, Dongcheng District
Chinese Address: 北京东城区朝阳门北大街1号新保利大厦
Old Address: Poly Plaza, 14 Dongzhimen Nan Dajie, Dongcheng District, Beijing
Transportation: Subway Line 2 at dongsishitiao
Phone: 010-5925-2288, 010-6500-8117
Curator:Jiang Yingchun
This very impressive museum, recently moved to the Beijing’s avant-garde building New Poly Plaza and located in
the 8-story lantern which literally hangs from the main structure, was established in 1998 to promote traditional art
and to protect Chinese art from being lost to foreign countries. The museum has focused on the overseas
acquisition of ancient bronzes, sculpture, and painting.
In May 2000, the museum made news headline when it spent $4 million to buy three bronze animal heads (ox,
monkey and tiger) at auctions in Hong Kong. The bronze pig head was donated to the Poly Art Museum in 2003.
All four heads are now part of the collections of the Poly Art Museum. The heads had been part of a zodiac
fountain at the Old Summer Palace near Beijing, designed by a European Jesuit in the mid-18th century, and were
looted by French and English troops when they razed the estate in 1860.
The museum is divided into two galleries, one for the display of Chinese bronzes from as early as the Shang
Dynasty (17th-11th century BC), and the other for Buddhist scriptures carved in stone from the Wei, Ji, Tang and
other dynasties. The most rare and valuable single bronze and the most fascinating object to scrutinize is the
ornate bronze ceremonial wine vessel (shenmian you, see the photo below) with the face of a deity and various
birds and other figures and a gorgeous blue-green patina. Unusually well preserved and made with exceptional
skill, it dates from the western Zhou period, from the 11th to 8th centuries B.C.
Address: 1 Chaoyangmen Bei Dajie, New Poly Plaza, Dongcheng District
Chinese Address: 北京东城区朝阳门北大街1号新保利大厦
Old Address: Poly Plaza, 14 Dongzhimen Nan Dajie, Dongcheng District, Beijing
Transportation: Subway Line 2 at dongsishitiao
Phone: 010-5925-2288, 010-6500-8117
Curator:Jiang Yingchun
This very impressive museum, recently moved to the Beijing’s avant-garde building New Poly Plaza and located in
the 8-story lantern which literally hangs from the main structure, was established in 1998 to promote traditional art
and to protect Chinese art from being lost to foreign countries. The museum has focused on the overseas
acquisition of ancient bronzes, sculpture, and painting.
In May 2000, the museum made news headline when it spent $4 million to buy three bronze animal heads (ox,
monkey and tiger) at auctions in Hong Kong. The bronze pig head was donated to the Poly Art Museum in 2003.
All four heads are now part of the collections of the Poly Art Museum. The heads had been part of a zodiac
fountain at the Old Summer Palace near Beijing, designed by a European Jesuit in the mid-18th century, and were
looted by French and English troops when they razed the estate in 1860.
The museum is divided into two galleries, one for the display of Chinese bronzes from as early as the Shang
Dynasty (17th-11th century BC), and the other for Buddhist scriptures carved in stone from the Wei, Ji, Tang and
other dynasties. The most rare and valuable single bronze and the most fascinating object to scrutinize is the
ornate bronze ceremonial wine vessel (shenmian you, see the photo below) with the face of a deity and various
birds and other figures and a gorgeous blue-green patina. Unusually well preserved and made with exceptional
skill, it dates from the western Zhou period, from the 11th to 8th centuries B.C.
保利艺术博物馆
保利艺术博物馆原址是在北京市东城区东四十条东北角的保利大厦，现在迁入新保利大厦。从属于中国保利集团，1999年12
月正式对外开放，为我国首家国有大型企业兴办的艺术类博物馆。超过一半的展品为中国的国宝级文物, 已被海内外博物界誉
为“中国大陆最具现代水平的博物馆之一”，并跻身中国著名博物馆行列。
馆藏展示由青铜器和石刻像两大部分组成，展品绝大多数为集团从海外抢救而来，相当部分属于精品、绝品或孤品，具有很
高的历史和艺术价值。其中“中国古代青铜艺术精品陈列”，展出商代早期至唐代(约公元前16世纪至公元9世纪)的青铜珍品
150余件 (组)，展现中国古代青铜文明的发展历程与独特魅力，其中商代三牛首兽面纹尊、史尊、犅伯卣 （yǒu 古代一种酒
器,椭圆形）及西周神面卣、王作左守鼎、遂公盨、凤首扁盉、戎生编钟等，皆为世所罕见的稀品与孤品。“中国古代石刻佛教
造像艺术精品陈列”，通过40余件北朝至唐代(公元5世纪至8世纪)的石刻佛像，勾勒出巅峰期中国佛教艺术的风彩。其中北朝
时期(公元6世纪至7世纪)山东青州地区雕造的一批佛像，其保存之好，工艺之精，世所罕见。是人们了解中国古代青铜艺术
和佛教雕塑艺术的最重要的一批新数据。
2000年5月，保利集团将100多年前遭列强掠夺的三件圆明园国宝—— 牛首、猴首、虎首铜像抢救回国，引起了海内外的广
泛好评，激发了国人和海外华人的爱国热情。三件国宝回归祖国后，集团公司先后组织在香港、北京、上海、广州等十几个
大城市以及台湾地区进行巡展，各界人士和群众共计400多万人次观展，为集团公司和博物馆带来了巨大的声誉。
一、国宝抢救概况
圆明园猴首、牛首、虎首及猪首铜像因 1860年英法联军劫掠而流失海外。2000年春，佳士得和苏富比两家拍卖公司不顾中
国国家文物局的声明，公开在香港拍卖圆明园猴首、牛首和虎首铜像。在国宝拍卖前半小时，保利集团领导当即指示保利艺
术博物馆在港代表到拍卖现场抢救国宝。经过一番艰苦努力，最后终于以3000多万港币的价格拍购到圆明园猴首、牛首和虎
首铜像。2003年9月，澳门著名实业家何鸿燊博士又将圆明园猪首铜像捐赠给保利艺术博物馆。这样，圆明园内海晏堂前十
二生肖中四件铜像在流失海外140余年后，永久收藏在保利艺术博物馆内。
二、历史背景及用途
四件圆明园国宝原为园内海晏堂前的水利钟构件。海晏堂的正面中门外，是法国神父蒋友仁设计的大型喷泉池。平台左右对
称布置弧形石阶及水扶梯形式扶手墙，楼左右的迭落石梯环抱着大喷水池，池正中是一个高约两米的蛤蜊石雕，池两旁呈八
字形各排出6个石座，每一石座上雕刻一尊手持玉笏、身着袍服的兽首人身像，兽首铜质，人身石质，与真人相仿，形神兼
备。它们按子鼠、丑牛、寅虎、卯兔、辰龙、巳蛇、午马、未羊、申猴、酉鸡、戌狗、亥猪十二生肖规律交错排列。这些动
物铜像口中轮流喷出一个时辰 (合今天的两小时)水柱，即子时(23时至次日1时)时分，鼠首铜像口中喷射水柱；丑时(1时至3
时)时分，牛首铜像口中喷射水柱……但当正午时分即12 点整时，除马首继续喷水外，其它十一动物铜像的口中也一齐喷射
水柱，刹那间场面极为壮观。因此，人们只要看到那个生肖头像口中喷射水柱，就可知道现在的时间。所以，这一组喷泉实
际上就是一个巨大的、别致的水力时钟。
三、四国宝赏鉴
240多年前，正值乾隆盛世，清王朝国力强盛，工艺水平处于巅峰，这在这四件圆明园国宝上表现得尤为充分。首先，它们所
用的铜，系专门为宫廷所炼制的合金铜，内含诸多贵重金属，与北京故宫、颐和园陈列的铜鹤等所用铜相同，颜色深沉，内
蕴精光，历经风雨而不锈蚀，堪称一绝。其次，他们是由专门为皇帝服务的宫廷造办处工匠们精心制作的，铸工精整，像上
动物绒毛等细微之处皆一凿一凿锻打而成，清晰逼真，不见一丝马虎，展现出极高的工艺水准。
更让专家们称道的是，四件国宝所体现出的艺术价值。虽然四件头像皆造型写实，均由中国宫廷匠师制造，但因设计者是郎
世宁等来自欧洲的艺术家，故而它们的造型带有诸多西方艺术特色，成为融汇东西方文化的艺术珍品。牛首铜像，活脱脱一
个西班牙斗牛模样，两眼圆瞪，双角弯曲向前，威风凛凛，而中国传统的水牛和黄牛的造型皆牛角向上或向后，从未见到过
双角向前的实例，也更多是性情温驯、吃苦耐劳的模样；虎首铜像更与中国传统的虎的造型大相径庭，如果不是额头上的“王”
字，许多人都会误以为是一头狮子的形象。只有在中国才将老虎尊为百兽之王，因此这件虎首铜像中西合璧的意义更为典
型；猴首铜像则是一个“美猴王”的形象，中国味要浓得多；猪首铜像造型与中国传统的猪的造型差别较大，尖嘴长吻，獠牙外
凸，颇似野猪的形象，但蒲扇般伏贴的大耳，又有浓郁的中国传统审美趣味，融合了东西方造型的艺术特点。
中西合璧的雕塑作品，在东西方交流日益密切的今天算不上什么稀奇，但它们诞生在“闭关锁国”的240年前，完全可以在中西
雕塑交流史上写下浓重的一笔。清代康熙、雍正、乾隆三朝，随着欧洲传教士的纷纷来华，中西方文化交流曾颇为繁盛。但
体现这一时期中西方文化交流的艺术品多是绘画，作为雕塑作品，则以这四件铜像时代最早，成就也最为杰出。
地址：北京东城区朝阳门北大街1号新保利大厦
电话：010-5925-2288
交通：地铁2号线东四十条站
保利艺术博物馆原址是在北京市东城区东四十条东北角的保利大厦，现在迁入新保利大厦。从属于中国保利集团，1999年12
月正式对外开放，为我国首家国有大型企业兴办的艺术类博物馆。超过一半的展品为中国的国宝级文物, 已被海内外博物界誉
为“中国大陆最具现代水平的博物馆之一”，并跻身中国著名博物馆行列。
馆藏展示由青铜器和石刻像两大部分组成，展品绝大多数为集团从海外抢救而来，相当部分属于精品、绝品或孤品，具有很
高的历史和艺术价值。其中“中国古代青铜艺术精品陈列”，展出商代早期至唐代(约公元前16世纪至公元9世纪)的青铜珍品
150余件 (组)，展现中国古代青铜文明的发展历程与独特魅力，其中商代三牛首兽面纹尊、史尊、犅伯卣 （yǒu 古代一种酒
器,椭圆形）及西周神面卣、王作左守鼎、遂公盨、凤首扁盉、戎生编钟等，皆为世所罕见的稀品与孤品。“中国古代石刻佛教
造像艺术精品陈列”，通过40余件北朝至唐代(公元5世纪至8世纪)的石刻佛像，勾勒出巅峰期中国佛教艺术的风彩。其中北朝
时期(公元6世纪至7世纪)山东青州地区雕造的一批佛像，其保存之好，工艺之精，世所罕见。是人们了解中国古代青铜艺术
和佛教雕塑艺术的最重要的一批新数据。
2000年5月，保利集团将100多年前遭列强掠夺的三件圆明园国宝—— 牛首、猴首、虎首铜像抢救回国，引起了海内外的广
泛好评，激发了国人和海外华人的爱国热情。三件国宝回归祖国后，集团公司先后组织在香港、北京、上海、广州等十几个
大城市以及台湾地区进行巡展，各界人士和群众共计400多万人次观展，为集团公司和博物馆带来了巨大的声誉。
一、国宝抢救概况
圆明园猴首、牛首、虎首及猪首铜像因 1860年英法联军劫掠而流失海外。2000年春，佳士得和苏富比两家拍卖公司不顾中
国国家文物局的声明，公开在香港拍卖圆明园猴首、牛首和虎首铜像。在国宝拍卖前半小时，保利集团领导当即指示保利艺
术博物馆在港代表到拍卖现场抢救国宝。经过一番艰苦努力，最后终于以3000多万港币的价格拍购到圆明园猴首、牛首和虎
首铜像。2003年9月，澳门著名实业家何鸿燊博士又将圆明园猪首铜像捐赠给保利艺术博物馆。这样，圆明园内海晏堂前十
二生肖中四件铜像在流失海外140余年后，永久收藏在保利艺术博物馆内。
二、历史背景及用途
四件圆明园国宝原为园内海晏堂前的水利钟构件。海晏堂的正面中门外，是法国神父蒋友仁设计的大型喷泉池。平台左右对
称布置弧形石阶及水扶梯形式扶手墙，楼左右的迭落石梯环抱着大喷水池，池正中是一个高约两米的蛤蜊石雕，池两旁呈八
字形各排出6个石座，每一石座上雕刻一尊手持玉笏、身着袍服的兽首人身像，兽首铜质，人身石质，与真人相仿，形神兼
备。它们按子鼠、丑牛、寅虎、卯兔、辰龙、巳蛇、午马、未羊、申猴、酉鸡、戌狗、亥猪十二生肖规律交错排列。这些动
物铜像口中轮流喷出一个时辰 (合今天的两小时)水柱，即子时(23时至次日1时)时分，鼠首铜像口中喷射水柱；丑时(1时至3
时)时分，牛首铜像口中喷射水柱……但当正午时分即12 点整时，除马首继续喷水外，其它十一动物铜像的口中也一齐喷射
水柱，刹那间场面极为壮观。因此，人们只要看到那个生肖头像口中喷射水柱，就可知道现在的时间。所以，这一组喷泉实
际上就是一个巨大的、别致的水力时钟。
三、四国宝赏鉴
240多年前，正值乾隆盛世，清王朝国力强盛，工艺水平处于巅峰，这在这四件圆明园国宝上表现得尤为充分。首先，它们所
用的铜，系专门为宫廷所炼制的合金铜，内含诸多贵重金属，与北京故宫、颐和园陈列的铜鹤等所用铜相同，颜色深沉，内
蕴精光，历经风雨而不锈蚀，堪称一绝。其次，他们是由专门为皇帝服务的宫廷造办处工匠们精心制作的，铸工精整，像上
动物绒毛等细微之处皆一凿一凿锻打而成，清晰逼真，不见一丝马虎，展现出极高的工艺水准。
更让专家们称道的是，四件国宝所体现出的艺术价值。虽然四件头像皆造型写实，均由中国宫廷匠师制造，但因设计者是郎
世宁等来自欧洲的艺术家，故而它们的造型带有诸多西方艺术特色，成为融汇东西方文化的艺术珍品。牛首铜像，活脱脱一
个西班牙斗牛模样，两眼圆瞪，双角弯曲向前，威风凛凛，而中国传统的水牛和黄牛的造型皆牛角向上或向后，从未见到过
双角向前的实例，也更多是性情温驯、吃苦耐劳的模样；虎首铜像更与中国传统的虎的造型大相径庭，如果不是额头上的“王”
字，许多人都会误以为是一头狮子的形象。只有在中国才将老虎尊为百兽之王，因此这件虎首铜像中西合璧的意义更为典
型；猴首铜像则是一个“美猴王”的形象，中国味要浓得多；猪首铜像造型与中国传统的猪的造型差别较大，尖嘴长吻，獠牙外
凸，颇似野猪的形象，但蒲扇般伏贴的大耳，又有浓郁的中国传统审美趣味，融合了东西方造型的艺术特点。
中西合璧的雕塑作品，在东西方交流日益密切的今天算不上什么稀奇，但它们诞生在“闭关锁国”的240年前，完全可以在中西
雕塑交流史上写下浓重的一笔。清代康熙、雍正、乾隆三朝，随着欧洲传教士的纷纷来华，中西方文化交流曾颇为繁盛。但
体现这一时期中西方文化交流的艺术品多是绘画，作为雕塑作品，则以这四件铜像时代最早，成就也最为杰出。
地址：北京东城区朝阳门北大街1号新保利大厦
电话：010-5925-2288
交通：地铁2号线东四十条站
A photo Gallery of Poly Art Museum Collections
Phoenix (Western Zhou Dynasty, Poly Art Museum) 西周朋季凤
鸟大尊 (保利艺术博物馆)
The Chinese started to worship the phoenix as the guardian
spirit of the nation more than 3,000 years ago, even before they
began to adore the dragon.
The extremely beautiful phoenix wine vessel (Zun), 49
centimetres tall and 41 centimetres long, is almost three times
the height of the two thought to be in the United States, which
are both apparently only 17.5 centimetres tall. It can be dated
back to the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046-771 BC).
The bronze wine vessel is in the shape of a phoenix standing
with its head raised, eyes opened wide, wings and tail spread.
The "phoenix" has a crest in the shape of a blooming flower on
the top of its "head." And on its "back" there is a smaller
"phoenix" standing leisurely with its wings nestled against its
"belly." The smaller bird functions as a handle on the top of the
vessel's cover, which is part of the large bird's back. Complex
and exquisite patterns, including dragons, cover the two birds'
bodies.
三千年历史的中华国宝“朋季凤鸟大尊，誕生在武王伐紂亂世之
際，亦是迄今發現的中國最大青銅鳳.目前全球的立體鳳鳥尊僅有3
件，其中兩件流落美國.
鸟大尊 (保利艺术博物馆)
The Chinese started to worship the phoenix as the guardian
spirit of the nation more than 3,000 years ago, even before they
began to adore the dragon.
The extremely beautiful phoenix wine vessel (Zun), 49
centimetres tall and 41 centimetres long, is almost three times
the height of the two thought to be in the United States, which
are both apparently only 17.5 centimetres tall. It can be dated
back to the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046-771 BC).
The bronze wine vessel is in the shape of a phoenix standing
with its head raised, eyes opened wide, wings and tail spread.
The "phoenix" has a crest in the shape of a blooming flower on
the top of its "head." And on its "back" there is a smaller
"phoenix" standing leisurely with its wings nestled against its
"belly." The smaller bird functions as a handle on the top of the
vessel's cover, which is part of the large bird's back. Complex
and exquisite patterns, including dragons, cover the two birds'
bodies.
三千年历史的中华国宝“朋季凤鸟大尊，誕生在武王伐紂亂世之
際，亦是迄今發現的中國最大青銅鳳.目前全球的立體鳳鳥尊僅有3
件，其中兩件流落美國.
Bronze Wine Vessel "Shenmian You" from Early Western Zhou
Period - Poly Art Museum's most prized possession
The most important piece to have been returned from overseas to
date is a bronze you with faces of `divinities' on the lid and body
and is believed to have originated in Shaanxi province and was
acquired in Hong Kong. There are identical inscriptions of five
characters in two rows inside the lid and on the base. The vessel
has been ascribed to the early Western Zhou period on the basis
of its style and the form of the characters. The overall composition
of this you is very unusual, but authenticators are convinced it is
genuine. It is generally believed in the purchase price for the you
was around RMB8 million.
保利艺术博物馆的镇馆之宝是一件西周时的青铜酒器，名神面卣. 这
件青铜器器盖与器身的两面皆为神面。神面头有双角，双睛圆鼓，直
鼻小耳，大眼暴张，龇出两颗獠牙，在威猛之中又略带笑意。
即使你变换位置，它的双眼仍紧紧盯着你，有摄人魂魄之感。
器盖顶端站立一只猫头鹰，器身口沿的两侧亦各伸出一个称作貘的动
物（貘是一种食蚁兽），此酒器 上有一提梁，此提梁由共享一尾的
两条龙组成，龙尾上翘。提梁的两端各有一个由象鼻、牛头、羊角组
合而成的怪兽，卣的最下部圈足上则装饰有一头双身的蛇，蛇 头居
中前凸，蛇身左右延展；恰与提梁上的双身龙相呼应。
Period - Poly Art Museum's most prized possession
The most important piece to have been returned from overseas to
date is a bronze you with faces of `divinities' on the lid and body
and is believed to have originated in Shaanxi province and was
acquired in Hong Kong. There are identical inscriptions of five
characters in two rows inside the lid and on the base. The vessel
has been ascribed to the early Western Zhou period on the basis
of its style and the form of the characters. The overall composition
of this you is very unusual, but authenticators are convinced it is
genuine. It is generally believed in the purchase price for the you
was around RMB8 million.
保利艺术博物馆的镇馆之宝是一件西周时的青铜酒器，名神面卣. 这
件青铜器器盖与器身的两面皆为神面。神面头有双角，双睛圆鼓，直
鼻小耳，大眼暴张，龇出两颗獠牙，在威猛之中又略带笑意。
即使你变换位置，它的双眼仍紧紧盯着你，有摄人魂魄之感。
器盖顶端站立一只猫头鹰，器身口沿的两侧亦各伸出一个称作貘的动
物（貘是一种食蚁兽），此酒器 上有一提梁，此提梁由共享一尾的
两条龙组成，龙尾上翘。提梁的两端各有一个由象鼻、牛头、羊角组
合而成的怪兽，卣的最下部圈足上则装饰有一头双身的蛇，蛇 头居
中前凸，蛇身左右延展；恰与提梁上的双身龙相呼应。
商晚棡伯卣
Set of Eight Western Zhou-period rongsheng yong bells
Bronze
Largest bell: height 51.7 cm
The bells are unusual in that they form a complete set, which is
confirmed by the 154-character inscription, sections of which
appear on each of the bells. The inscription includes the name
Rong Sheng, the ruler of the Rong state. Each bell is capable of
producing two notes.
西周戎生编钟
Bronze
Largest bell: height 51.7 cm
The bells are unusual in that they form a complete set, which is
confirmed by the 154-character inscription, sections of which
appear on each of the bells. The inscription includes the name
Rong Sheng, the ruler of the Rong state. Each bell is capable of
producing two notes.
西周戎生编钟
早商平底舒腰爵
西周应侯壶
战国扁壶
Stone-Carved Buddha Statue at Poly
Art Museum in Beijing
Art Museum in Beijing
Four bronze animal heads displayed at
Beijing Poly Art Museum
Beijing Poly Art Museum
a bronze monkey head statue at Poly
Art Museum in Beijing
Art Museum in Beijing
a bronze tiger head statue at Poly Art
Museum in Beijing
Museum in Beijing
a bronze ox head statue at Poly Art
Museum in Beijing
Museum in Beijing
Location Map of Poly Art Museum