A Terracotta Figure of an Ox

Eastern Han Dynasty, Henan Province, China, 25–220 CETerracotta ox created as a mingqi funerary figure during the Eastern Han Dynasty, reflecting the importance of agriculture and animal husbandry within early imperial Chinese society. Modeled with restrained naturalism and solid proportions, the sculpture conveys the quiet strength traditionally associated with the ox as a symbol of prosperity, labor, and stability. Figures of this type were placed within tombs to ensure the continuation of rural life and spiritual sustenance in the afterlife. This ox is molded from grey terra cotta, stands four-square on a plate, and has a proud bearing with an upturned head and prominent horns. The patina is richly textured, with desirable mineral accretions.