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Mortuary Figurine

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231614
Object Number:C410
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:Ceramic
Glaze
Technique:Glazed
Fired
Iconography:Camel
Credit Line:Purchased from C. T. Loo, 1924

Description

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.

Current & Past Exhibitions:

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

Bibliography:

[Article] 1924. "Chinese Sculpture Recently Acquired". The Museum Journal. Philadelphia. The University Museum. Vol. XV. no. 4. pg. 258-287 Actual Citation : Page/Fig./Plate: Pg. 272, Plate XIView Objects related to this Actual Citation

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