Figure of a Dog

Eastern Han dynasty (25–220)

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 207

This glazed pottery figure depicts a dog with a menacing look, marked by its raised ears, staring eyes, and tightly clenched jaws. Its studded collar, a fashionable accessory of the time, suggests that the animal was a pet with a wealthy master. During the Han dynasty, it was common practice to bury pottery models of dogs in graves, in the belief that they would keep the deceased humans company in the afterlife.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Provenance

Exhibition History

References

东汉绿釉陶狗
Title: Figure of a Dog
Period: Eastern Han dynasty (25–220)
Culture: China
Medium: Earthenware with dark green glaze
Dimensions: H. 10 1/2 in. (26.7 cm); W. 4 1/2 in. (11.4 cm); L. 9 1/2 in. (24.1 cm)
Classification: Ceramics
Credit Line: Gift of Stanley Herzman, in memory of Adele Herzman, 1991
Object Number: 1991.253.1
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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