Standing Attendant
Warring States period (480–221 BCE), 4th or 3rd century BCE
Medium
Wood with traces of polychrome pigments
Dimensions
49.1 × 10.3 × 6.1 cm (19 5/16 × 4 1/16 × 2 3/8 in.)
Classification
wood
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
65902
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
In Chu tombs, wood sculptures of men and women were placed in compartments surrounding the coffin. Natural weathering has accentuated the elegant attenuation of these figures. Some were constructed with separate forearms and hands, now lost, that were tenoned into small holes in their sleeves.
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...