Dog
Chinese
Description
Subject Matter:
Along with horses, birds, and other animals, dogs are also considered to be sacrificial animals in ancient China. By the Eastern Han Dynasty ceramic sculptures of dogs had become commonplace in tombs as mingqi (明器), or grave goods for the afterlife. They were usually sculpted by hand, with close attention paid to the individualization of several different breeds.
Physical Description:
A red earthenware dog sculpture. The dog is standing in attention, with a stocky body on four muscular legs, and long-fur tail flowing up at the hindquarters. Its head is atop a thick neck, and it has a smiling mouth with protruding tongue, deep-set large eyes and forward pointed bent ears. Its pupils are detailed in black. There are traces of black and white mineral pigment.
Usage Rights:
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