Skip to Content
Today Open today 10–11 members | 11–5 public

  • Mon 11–5
  • Tue–Wed Closed
  • Thu 11–8
  • Fri–Sun 11–5
  • Members: the first hour of every day, 10–11 a.m., is reserved for member–only viewing.

Mastiff (Tomb Figurine)

A work made of brick-red earthenware with green lead glaze.
CC0 Public Domain Designation

Image actions

  • A work made of brick-red earthenware with green lead glaze.

Date:

Eastern Han dynasty (A.D. 25–220), 2nd century

Artist:

China

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.

Status

On View, Gallery 133

Department

Arts of Asia

Title

Mastiff (Tomb Figurine)

Place

China (Artist's nationality)

Date

25 CE–220 CE

Medium

Brick-red earthenware with green lead glaze

Dimensions

H.: 32.3 cm (12 3/4 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Russell Tyson

Reference Number

1950.1630

IIIF Manifest  The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world.

Learn more.

https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/73236/manifest.json

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

Share

Sign up for our enewsletter to receive updates.
Learn more

Image actions

Share

Suggested Terms