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Tomb Guardian with Animal Head
Unknown maker (China), early 700s
Fantastic guardian creatures were put at tomb entrances to ward off evil and to keep the soul of the dead person from wandering. They are known as earth spirits, or qitou. This one has an animal face and a pair of antlers above its eyebrows. Its partner has a human face, huge ears and a short horn surrounded by fiery, twisting hair.
The Cleveland Museum of Art notes that their many long spikes add to their fearsome look. The figure is made of glazed earthenware in sancai, or three-colour, ware, and stands about 92 centimetres high.
Before such sculptures were placed in the tomb, they were carried through the streets in a funerary procession. Burial goods were meant to provide for the dead in the afterlife. They were also a sign of respect for parents and a display of the wealth and power of the descendants.
From the museum record
| Artist | Unknown maker (China) |
|---|---|
| Date | early 700s |
| Medium | Glazed earthenware, sancai (three-color) ware |
| Size | Overall: 92.3 x 43.8 x 41.9 cm |
| Museum | The Cleveland Museum of Art |
| Credit line | Gift of various donors to the department of Asian Art (by exchange) |
| Accession number | 2000.118.1 |
| Licence | Open Access (CC0) |
Source: The Cleveland Museum of Art collection record. Facts such as dates, sizes and credit lines come from that record. The write-up above was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the museum record and standard references. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
