Zoomorphic Candlestick
Chinese
Description
Subject Matter:
A zoomorphic candlestick in the form of an imaginary double headed goat-lion beast, with a human rider.
Animals, including horses, birds, and dogs, were considered to be sacrificial animals in ancient China. By the Eastern Han Dynasty ceramic sculptures of animals, including imaginary zoomorphic, or possibly mythical auspicous animal hybrids, had become commonplace in tombs as mingqi (明器), or grave goods, for the afterlife.
Since the Qin dynasty (221 - 206 BCE), ceramic figures have been used to replace human sacrifice in burial practices as mingqi as a way to provide for the deceased. Mingqi could include houses, towers, gates, granaries, livestock pens, chicken coops, wells, cooking stoves, storage vessels, dishes, incense burners, and lamps. Figures could include horses, dogs, anthropomorphic animals and people, such as officials, guardians, servants, and entertainers. By the Han dynasty, they also included representations of common people engaged in the activities that consumed their daily lives, such a cooking. The tombs in southern provinces of Sichuan and Shaanxi have revealed a vast array of figures in playful and humorous poses. As grave goods, these mingqi included everything one would need to ensure a comfortable transition into the afterlife. The number of ceramic mingqi items in a tomb could reach numbers of a few to several hundred objects.
Physical Description:
A red earthenware figure of a double headed mythical animal. One end has the head of a ram with a beard, clearly marked nostrils and open eyes, and curling horns over the ears. A short pillar stands behind and over the head of the ram, with an aperture. There is a seated human figure wearing a folded robe and a hat behind the body of a lion-like beast. The lion has flaring nostrils, round open eyes and prominent brows, and a wide open mouth. There are also marks for whiskers and, perhaps, a beard. The object has traces of slip and polychrome mineral pigment.
Usage Rights:
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