Sogdian groom, from a set of funerary sculptures

Accession Number
1950/2.13

Title
Sogdian groom, from a set of funerary sculptures

Artist(s)
Chinese

Artist Nationality
Chinese (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
7th century

Medium & Support
earthenware with slip and painted decoration

Dimensions
8 3/8 in. x 2 3/8 in. x 2 1/4 in. ( 21.3 cm x 6 cm x 5.72 cm )

Credit Line
Museum Purchase

Label copy
March 28, 2009
The global reach of the Tang Empire and the commercial success of its Silk Road enterprise by land and by sea attracted many foreign adventurers, entertainers, and workers to China. The Chinese were fascinated by their exotic looks and ethnic garments and featured them prominently in the painting and pottery of the period. This Sogdian groom likely came out of the tomb of a Chinese military official, along with a retinue of other figures for a comfortable afterlife. The pottery groom, made of low-fired earthenware and decorated with white slip (liquid clay) and pigments, demonstrates the Tang interest in realism. He is carefully depicted with red hair, bushy eyebrows, deep-set eyes, large nose, well-trimmed beard, and wide-lapelled robe, which is tied with a black belt below the waist under a fleece overcoat. He wears white leggings with soft knee- high black boots.

Subject matter
It was common for Chinese military officials to adorn their tombs with sculpted figures of both imported horses and their red-haired, bearded Sogdian grooms. The Sogdians (a people of ancient Central Asian kingdoms in the region of modern Uzbekistan) were important in the commerce of the Silk Road between the fourth and ninth centuries.

Physical Description
Standing male figure with bushy beard wearing a robe and black boots, decorated with red and black pigment.

Primary Object Classification
Sculpture

Primary Object Type
figure

Additional Object Classification(s)
Ceramic

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
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Keywords
Sogdian (culture and style)
figures (representations)
funerary objects
funerary sculpture

12 Related Resources

Before 1492
(Part of 3 Learning Collections)
Death and Dying
(Part of 8 Learning Collections)
Devotional Objects Across Religions
(Part of 4 Learning Collections)
Grief and Mourning Rituals
(Part of 5 Learning Collections)
Heavens, Hells, and Afterlives
(Part of 3 Learning Collections)
Immigration, Migration, and Displacement
(Part of 4 Learning Collections)
The Ceramic Road: Cultural Exchange in Asian Ceramics
(Part of: Exchange and Influence on Global Trade Routes)

& Author Notes

Web Use Permitted

On display

UMMA Gallery Location ➜ FFW, Mezzanine ➜ M06 (Shirley Chang Gallery of Chinese Art)