Armored Infantryman
Returned to lender
This work of art was on loan to the museum and has since been returned to its lender.The main battalion of the First Emperor’s terracotta army comprised infantrymen like this one, aligned in rows of four. He wears body and shoulder armor over a long tunic. Judging from his gesture, he once held a weapon, possibly a halberd or spear.
The terracotta warriors were all products of mass production. Parts such as the head, arms, and torso were molded separately as modules and then assembled. Before firing, however, clay was applied to their surfaces to allow for individualization and refinement. Most figures were fired as a single piece, suggesting the use of large-chambered kilns.
The terracotta warriors were all products of mass production. Parts such as the head, arms, and torso were molded separately as modules and then assembled. Before firing, however, clay was applied to their surfaces to allow for individualization and refinement. Most figures were fired as a single piece, suggesting the use of large-chambered kilns.
Artwork Details
- 秦 陶铠甲武士俑
- Title: Armored Infantryman
- Period: Qin dynasty (221–206 BCE)
- Culture: China
- Medium: Earthenware
- Dimensions: H. 78 1/8 in. (298.4 cm): W. 26 in. (66 cm); D. 19 1/4 in. (48.9 cm); Wt. 374.1 lb. (169.7 kg)
- Classification: Sculpture
- Credit Line: Lent by Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art