A Terra Cotta Figure of a Fish Cook

Han Dynasty, Sichuan Province, China, 206 BCE–220 CETerracotta figure depicting a fish cook or food preparer, rendered with a lively expression and naturalistic posture characteristic of Han funerary sculpture from Sichuan. Created as a mingqi burial object, figures of this type were intended to provide domestic service and sustenance for the deceased in the afterlife. The animated modeling reflects the Han Dynasty’s growing interest in scenes of everyday life, while the warmly expressive character exemplifies the sculptural vitality associated with Sichuan tomb figures. The figure is unusually realistic and detailed, seated in front of a work table laden with fish, an eel, and a turtle. The grey terracotta appears to have been covered in a reddish slip, which has significantly eroded and mineralized.