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Mortuary Figurine

This object is On Display
76660

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77149
77525
231614
Object Number:C465
Current Location: Asia Galleries
Currently On Display
Culture:Chinese
Provenience: China
Period: Tang Dynasty
Date Made: Tang Dynasty
Early Date: 618
Late Date: 906
Section:Asian
Materials:Clay
Glaze
Technique:Three Color Glaze
Fired
Iconography:Camel
Credit Line:Purchased from C. T. Loo, 1925

Description

Glazed pottery figure of a camel without a pack. This figurine would have been placed in a tomb with other ceremonial and everyday objects, such as horses and mounted musicians. Animal subjects were believed to help the soul communicate with spirits and make travel in the afterlife more comfortable. Camels, associated with trade and travel, were the main means of transport along the Silk Road. Passing through the Gobi Desert, camels were better suited to handle the heat than a horse. This camels has two humps and can be identified as a Bactrian camel. The figure has a sancai glaze with cream predominating. C461 through C468 is a set.

Current & Past Exhibitions:

China Gallery (22 Feb 2017) View Objects in Exhibition
Chinese Rotunda (1968 - 22 Feb 2017) View Objects in Exhibition

Bibliography:

[Book] 1983. Compton's Encyclopedia.. Chicago. F. E. Compton Co. Actual Citation : Page/Fig./Plate: p. 297aView Objects related to this Actual Citation
[Article] Fernald, Helen E. 1925. "Mortuary Figures of the T'ang Dynasty". The Museum Journal. Philadelphia. The University Museum. Vol. XVI. no. No. 3. pg. 153-181 Actual Citation : Page/Fig./Plate: pg. 173View Objects related to this Actual Citation

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