Description

Hand modeled pottery dog from the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD), depicted standing alert with its head raised and ears pricked, suggesting vigilance and loyalty. The figure is crafted with a sturdy, muscular body, straight legs, and a curled tail resting high over the back. Around the neck is a modeled collar with raised studs, a detail that emphasizes its role as a domesticated guardian animal.

Formed from earthenware clay, the dog would have been shaped by hand with additional details applied before firing. It was then low-fired in a kiln, producing the warm buff tone of the body, and likely painted with mineral-based pigments—traces of which are faintly visible. Dogs held special significance in Han culture and were frequently represented as (“spirit goods”) in tombs. They symbolized loyalty, protection, and companionship, serving both practical and symbolic functions in the afterlife. As guardians, they were believed to protect the tomb’s occupant from evil spirits, while as loyal companions they ensured comfort and familiarity.

This example, with its upright posture, detailed collar, and strong proportions, is a fine and evocative representation of Han dynasty funerary art, capturing the deep bond between humans and domesticated animals even in the earliest periods of Chinese history.

Age: Han Dynasty 206 BC – 220 AD

Dimensions: 13″ long x 6″ wide x 8 1/2″ high