A Pottery Figure of a Dog

Han Dynasty, China, 206 BCE–220 CE Yellow terracotta figure of a dog modeled in a simplified yet expressive form. Created as mingqi burial objects, these figures were intended to serve as symbolic guardians and companions for the deceased in the afterlife. This dog is particularly lifelike, standing foursquare with pricked ears and an alert, attentive posture. The surface is lightly patinated with some remaining pigments and mineral accretions along the belly. The sculpture reflects the importance of loyalty, protection, and domestic life within Han Dynasty funerary traditions.