A White Pottery Tang Camel

Tang Dynasty, China, 618–907 CEA painted terracotta Tang camel figure, reflecting the cosmopolitan culture of imperial China and the importance of Silk Road trade networks. Sculptures of this type were produced as mingqi burial objects intended to accompany the deceased into the afterlife. The camel symbolizes long-distance commerce between China and Central Asia, where such animals played a vital role in transporting goods across desert trade routes. This figure is molded from white pottery, stands foursquare on a plate, and has a well-molded saddlebag, painted-on bridle, and red-painted mane and hooves. The head is lively and animated and has an almost playful expression.