Returned to lender The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.
Dog
Eastern Han dynasty (25–220)
Not on view
This recumbent dog is captured at a moment of animation: with wide eyes and upright ears, it opens its mouth as though barking, its teeth bared in confrontation. Its compact, hollow body was molded, while its other parts, such as the ears, teeth, and eyes, were sculpted separately and applied to the body. Vividly detailed canines such as this one embodied the animus of a living animal and frequently appeared in burial complexes, where they warded off evil spirits and guarded both the tomb occupant and the material wealth that he or she brought into the afterlife.
Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.
