Bitch with two puppies

The popular practice of placing models of dogs in tombs to serve as a friend and protector of the deceased greatly influenced the development of hand-sculpting techniques, as well as the use of molds. By the Tang dynasty, highly realistic figurines of dogs with their puppies and of people playing with dogs were common. Dogs from the western regions were frequently presented to the Tang court as gifts, further increasing the enthusiasm for canine-shaped toys. To meet popular demand, the gongxian kiln of Henan set up a process for making toys in three-color glazes. This figurine, with the mother dog casually scratching her ear while the puppies eagerly search for milk, reveals the Tang potters keen eye for anatomy and animal behavior.