A Terracotta Figure of a Cook

Han Dynasty, Sichuan Province, China, 206 BCE–220 CE Terracotta figure depicting a 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 expressive character exemplifies the sculptural vitality associated with Sichuan tomb figures.