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Two Armored Warriors

Western Han dynasty (206 BCE–9 CE)
Not on view
Returned to lender
This work of art was on loan to the museum and has since been returned to its lender.
These figures were among 363 terracotta warriors excavated at Yangling, the mausoleum complex of Emperor Jing (r. 157–141 B.C.). They presumably represent infantrymen. Small holes at their shoulders suggest that they once had movable wood arms pegged to their bodies, while traces of textiles in the ground where they were found indicate that they were once clad in cloth robes. Their armors, originally made of wood or leather, have long perished. While their faces are strikingly naturalistic, their torsos and limbs are highly stylized, conforming to a method deeply rooted in traditional Chinese figural art.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • 西汉 陶铠甲武士俑两尊
  • Title: Two Armored Warriors
  • Period: Western Han dynasty (206 BCE–9 CE)
  • Culture: China
  • Medium: Earthenware with pigment
  • Dimensions: a (YG2329): H. 22 1/2 in. (57.1cm); W. 6 15/16 in. (17.7 cm)
    b (YG0816): H. 22 1/16 in. (56 cm); W. 5 in. (12.7 cm)
  • Classification: Sculpture
  • Credit Line: Lent by Museum of Yangling Mausoleum
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art