A Han Figure of a Standing Dog

Han Dynasty, China, 206 BCE–220 CE Terracotta sculpture of a standing -possibly snarling- dog created as a mingqi funerary object intended to accompany the deceased into the afterlife. Depicted in an alert posture, foursquare, the figure symbolizes loyalty, guardianship, and protection within Han funerary culture. Pottery animal figures of this type were commonly placed in tombs to recreate the comforts and security of daily life beyond death. The figure is molded from yellow pottery and covered in a green glaze that has become iridescent over long exposure to moisture. The energetic modeling and patinated surface create and archological and yet almost living record of the bond between man and dog during the Han Dynasty.