Mortuary Figurine

Mortuary pottery camel with sancai glaze. 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 than horses to handle the heat. Here, the camel is two humped, characteristic of Bactrian camels.