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Male figure

Place of OriginShaanxi province, China
Dateapprox. 188-144 BCE
PeriodWestern Han period (206 BCE-9 CE)
MaterialsEarthenware
DimensionsH. 22 5/8 in x W. 3 1/2 in x D. 2 3/4 in, H. 57.4 cm x W. 8.9 cm x D. 7.0 cm
Credit LineGift of David Hill
Object number1991.33
DepartmentChinese Art
ClassificationsSculpture
On View
On view
LocationGallery 15
More Information

Tomb Figurines in Human Form

By the Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE) human sacrifice was no longer part of the funerary ceremony, and clay models were buried instead. Most clay figurines represented the servants and protectors of the deceased, including warriors, entertainers, cooks, grooms, and maidservants of the court. A fascinating study of changes in fashion and ideals of feminine beauty can be made by examining these tomb models.
The human figurines in these tombs were arranged in a definite hierarchy. Models of servants and support staff were arranged along the floors and niches. Images of the deceased and his or her peers, as well as admired historical personalities and divine beings, were painted, carved in stone, or impressed in the clay tiles that made up the sarcophagus and the walls of the tomb chamber.

This is an example of a type of early Western Han figure that depicted genitalia. Evidence from a scientifically excavated tomb indicates that these pieces had wooden arms and were dressed in garments of actual fabric.