A Chinese Architectural Model Tower

Han Dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE)This earthenware architectural model represents a tower-like structure created for use in a Chinese funerary context. Constructed in several sections, the cylindrical lower body supports a series of progressively diminishing roofs crowned by a finial, creating the silhouette of a multi-storied tower. The undulating eaves, incised decorative panels, and carefully modeled architectural details reflect the growing interest in representing built environments in miniature during the Han period. Objects of this type belong to the tradition of mingqi, or spirit goods, which were placed within tombs to provide comfort, protection, and material prosperity for the deceased in the afterlife. Han artisans produced a wide range of architectural models, including towers, granaries, wells, courtyards, and watchtowers, offering valuable insight into forms of construction that have rarely survived in wood.