Model of Tiger
Unknown Artist
Medium
Stoneware
Dimensions
H. 2 3/4 in. (7 cm); L. 5 3/16 in. (13.2 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Culture & Period
China · Yuan dynasty (1271–1368)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Charlotte C. and John C. Weber Collection, Gift of Charlotte C. and John C. Weber, 1994
Accession Number
1994.605.80
Art Historical Context
This petite stoneware model of a tiger, crafted during China's Yuan dynasty (12711368), captures the grace of one of the nation's most revered animals. Measuring just 2¾ inches high and over 5 inches long, diminutive sculpture exemplifies the era's mastery of ceramics, where stoneware—a durable, high-fired clay—was prized for its resilience and subtle glaze effects. Tigers held profound symbolic power in Chinese culture, embodying strength, protection, and imperial authority, often warding off evil spirits or serving as talismans. Produced under the Mongol-ruled Yuan court, which blended Chin...