Fitting in the form of a quadruped with interlace

A quadruped; surface almost entirely covered with linear designs in countersunk relief. Smooth, gray-green patina with scattered encrustations of green. Bronze cracked on back, left side and belly; forelegs repaired.
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PAST LABEL TEXT
1. (Keith Wilson, "Art and Industry: China's Ancient Houma Foundry," October 14, 2017 to Apr 15, 2018, Gallery 18, Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution)

Fitting in the form of a hoofed animal with dragon interlace
Middle Eastern Zhou dynasty, ca. 500–400 BCE
State of Jin, Houma foundry
F1948.24

Party Animals
Formal banquets played an important role in diplomacy during the Zhou dynasty. Large or novel objects were made to impress guests, who had plenty of time to study the attractive pieces on the table.

1923
In March 1923, this curious creature was unearthed with a group of bronzes in Liyu, a town located about two hundred miles north of Houma. Imagine three more of these figures forming the four legs of a container or server. These and other Liyu bronzes generated great excitement in Europe. Art dealers, eager to increase their profits, separated the four legs and sold them to different owners. The four identical legs, made from the same model, are now in museums in London, San Francisco, Kyoto, and here.