Dog

Accession Number
2007/2.73

Title
Dog

Artist(s)
Chinese

Artist Nationality
Chinese (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
25-220 CE

Medium & Support
earthenware with mineral paint

Dimensions
9 7/16 in x 4 5/16 in x 12 1/2 in (23.97 cm x 10.95 cm x 31.75 cm);9 7/16 in x 4 5/16 in x 12 1/2 in (23.97 cm x 10.95 cm x 31.75 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Jiu-Hwa Lo Upshur

Subject matter
Along with horses, birds, and other animals, dogs are also considered to be sacrificial animals in ancient China.  By the Eastern Han Dynasty ceramic sculptures of dogs had become commonplace in tombs as mingqi (明器), or grave goods for the afterlife.  They were usually sculpted by hand, with close attention paid to the individualization of several different breeds. 

Physical Description
A red earthenware dog sculpture.  The dog is standing in attention, with a stocky body on four muscular legs, and long-fur tail flowing up at the hindquarters.  Its head is atop a thick neck, and it has a smiling mouth with protruding tongue, deep-set large eyes and forward pointed bent ears.  Its pupils are detailed in black. There are traces of black and white mineral pigment. 

Primary Object Classification
Ceramic

Primary Object Type
sculpture

Additional Object Classification(s)
Ceramic

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
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Keywords
Canis familiaris (species)
ceramic (material)
earthenware
grave goods
mineral pigment

6 Related Resources

Before 1492
(Part of 3 Learning Collections)
PAST - Dogs 
(Part of: FFW Lower Level Study Cases     )
W21 Mueggler - ANTHRCUL 337 - Death, Dying, Afterlife
(Part of: Resources Made by Isabel Engel)

& Author Notes

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