Accession Number
1991/2.79

Title
Head

Artist(s)
Chinese

Artist Nationality
Chinese (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
206 BCE - 220 CE

Medium & Support
earthenware with mineral paint

Dimensions
5 1/4 in x 4 1/2 in x 3 in (13.4 cm x 11.5 cm x 7.6 cm)

Credit Line
Museum purchase made possible by the Margaret Watson Parker Art Collection Fund

Subject matter
Since the Qin dynasty (221 - 206 BCE), ceramic figures in the form of mingqi (明器, bright objects) have been used to replace human sacrifice in burial practices as a way to provide for the deceased. Mingqi could include houses, towers, gates, granaries, livestock pens, chicken coops, wells, cooking stoves, storage vessels, dishes, incense burners, and lamps. Figures could include horses, dogs, anthropomorphic animals and people such as officials, guardians, servants and entertainers. By the Han dynasty, mingqi also included figures of common people engaged in the activities that consumed their daily lives such a cooking. The tombs in southern provinces of Sichuan and Shaanxi have revealed a vast array of figures in playful and humorous poses.  As grave goods, these mingqi included everything one would need to ensure a comfortable transition into the afterlife. The number of ceramic mingqi items in a tomb could reach numbers of a few to several hundred objects.

Physical Description
This red earthenware head on a thin neck has a petite nose, mouth, and eyes with soft, full cheeks. The figure's hair is pulled up on top of its head, above its two ears. Traces of polychrome pigment remain, showing that the eyes were once painted in detail. 

Primary Object Classification
Sculpture

Primary Object Type
head

Additional Object Classification(s)
Ceramic

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
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Keywords
ceramic (material)
earthenware
figures (representations)
grave goods
head
heads (animal components)
heads (representations)
males
mineral pigment
sculpture
sculpture (visual works)