Model of Dragon
Unknown Artist
Medium
Stoneware
Dimensions
H. 2 7/8 in. (7.3 cm); L. 6 5/8 in. (16.8 cm)
Classification
Tomb Pottery
Culture & Period
China · Yuan dynasty (1271–1368)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Charlotte C. and John C. Weber Collection, Gift of Charlotte C. and John C. Weber, 1994
Accession Number
1994.605.81
Art Historical Context
This delicate stoneware *Model of Dragon* hails from China's Yuan dynasty (12711368), a fascinating era when Mongol rulers governed a vast empire that blended nomadic influences with enduring Chinese traditions. Classified as tomb pottery, this small figurine—standing just 2⅞ inches (7.3 cm) high and stretching 6⅝ inches (16.8 cm) long—was likely crafted to accompany the deceased into the afterlife, embodying protective spirits and symbols of power. In Chinese culture, the dragon reigns supreme as an auspicious emblem of imperial authority, good fortune, and control over natural forces like r...