Mastiff (Tomb Figurine)
Eastern Han dynasty (A.D. 25–220), 2nd century
Medium
Brick-red earthenware with green lead glaze
Dimensions
H.: 32.3 cm (12 3/4 in.)
Classification
wood
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
73236
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Tomb models such as this alert watchdog reflect an increasingly humanistic and mundane view of the afterlife. Its compact, hollow earthenware body has been molded in two halves, joined lengthwise along the head, chest, back, and rump. The lead glaze, colored green by the addition of copper oxide, has decomposed into thin layers that reflect light with silvery iridescence.
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...