Head of a Warrior
6th century Kofun period (mid 3rd–6th century A.D.)
Medium
Earthenware
Dimensions
25.5 × 15.5 × 12.2 cm (10 × 6 1/8 × 4 3/4 in.)
Classification
ritual objects
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
200704
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This head of a warrior from an earthenware tomb figurine (haniwa) is from the late Kofun (literally “old burial mound”) period, which is typified by a complex hierarchical society with advanced burial rituals. Several burial mounds or tumuli for chieftains and emperors still exist today, particularly around the Nara area, and it is from such locations that haniwa figurines have been excavated. In the early Kofun period, haniwa were tubular in form so that they could be easily filled with earth a...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...