Statuette
Unknown Artist
18th century or earlier
Medium
Painted wood
Dimensions
H. 4 1/2 in. (11.4 cm); L. 4 1/2 in. (11.4 cm)
Classification
Sculpture
Culture & Period
China · probably late Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1930
Accession Number
30.76.175
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate painted wood statuette, just 4½ inches tall and wide, hails from China, likely the late Ming dynasty (136–1644). Crafted by an unknown artist, it depicts a male figure—possibly a scholar, official, deity—capturing the refined aesthetics of a period renowned for its artistic sophistication amid political and cultural flux. The Ming era saw a peak in wood sculpture, often used for ancestral worship, private altars, or scholarly displays, reflecting Confucian values of harmony and moral virtue. The medium of painted wood highlights masterful techniques: intricately carved details b...