Model of Standing Offical
Unknown Artist
Medium
Stoneware
Dimensions
H. 7 7/16 in. (18.9 cm); W. 1 13/16 in. (4.6 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
1994.605.68
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate stoneware model of a official, crafted during China's Yuan dynasty (12711368), exemplifies the intricate tomb pottery tradition known as *mingqi*. Standing just 7 7/16 inches tall, petite figurine (H. 7 7/16 in.; W. 1 13/16 in.) was designed for burial, serving as a symbolic servant in the afterlife. The Yuan period, under Mongol rule, blended Chinese artistic heritage with new influences, yet tomb models like this preserved ancient customs of equipping the deceased with miniature worlds—including officials, animals, birds, and even houses—to ensure comfort and status beyond deat...