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Rhinoceros and Groom

2nd century BC
Not on view
Returned to lender
This work of art was on loan to the museum and has since been returned to its lender.
Excessive hunting led to the near extinction of the rhinoceros in Han-dynasty China, occasioning their importation from southeast Asia. The anatomical accuracy of the present example indicates that the artist must have modeled his work after a living animal. This rhinoceros, accompanied by a stout, broad-faced groom, formed part of a sculpted menagerie of rare and exotic animals excavated from the tomb of Prince Liu Fei, reflecting not only the prince’s luxurious lifestyle but also the reach of the empire’s influence far beyond its borders.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • 西汉 青铜鎏金犀牛与驯犀俑
  • Title: Rhinoceros and Groom
  • Period: Western Han dynasty (206 BCE–9 CE)
  • Date: 2nd century BC
  • Culture: China
  • Medium: Gilt bronze
  • Dimensions: Rhino: H. 3 7/8 in. (9.8 cm); W. 3 5/16 in. (8.4 cm); L. 7 13/16 in. (19.8 cm)
    Groom: H. 1 7/8 in. (4.7 cm); W. 1 1/4 in. (3.2 cm)
  • Classification: Sculpture
  • Credit Line: Lent by Nanjing Museum
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art