南朝 青瓷爐灶人物|Stove with figures
Unknown Artist
ca. late 5th–early 6th century
Medium
Stoneware with green glaze
Dimensions
H. 4 1/8 in. (10.5 cm); W. 5 1/4 in. (13.3 cm)
Classification
Tomb Pottery
Culture & Period
China · Southern Dynasties (420–589)
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
1994.605.41
Art Historical Context
This charming miniature stove with figures, crafted during China's Southern Dynasties (420–589 CE), specifically around the late 5th to early 6th century, offers a glimpse into daily life through the lens of funerary art. Standing just over 4 inches tall and of stoneware coated in a delicate green glaze, it depicts a hearth scene populated by small human figures—likely attendants tending a fire—evoking the warmth of a household kitchen. As tomb pottery (mingqi), such models were buried with the deceased to provide comfort and practical services in the afterlife, reflecting ancient Chinese beli...