Figure of a Man
Unknown Artist
Medium
Pottery
Dimensions
H. 11 1/2 in. (29.2 cm)
Classification
Tomb Pottery
Culture & Period
China · Han dynasty (206 B.C.–A.D. 220)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of C. M. McGrath, 1924
Accession Number
24.184
Tags
Art Historical Context
This small pottery figure of a man, standing just over eleven inches tall, was created during China’s Han dynasty (206 B.C.–A.D. 220). Classified as tomb pottery, it belongs to a long tradition in which ceramic figures were placed in graves to serve the deceased in the afterlife. Such objects reveal the Han belief that the spirit world mirrored the living one, requiring attendants, servants, and guardians to ensure comfort and protection after death. Although the artist remains unknown, the figure’s simple yet expressive form reflects the practical artistry of Han potters. Working in clay all...