Chinese
Animal Guardians, n.d., Tang Dynasty
Not on view
Sancai-glazed ceramic
Dimensions29 3/8 × 10 × 7 1/2 in. (74.6 × 25.4 × 19.1 cm)
Museum purchase with funds from the Collection Endowment, 2003.3.2
These creatures were produced during the Tang dynasty, which lasted from 618 – 907 AD. Placed outside of a tomb, animal guardians were given ferocious and threatening features to prevent evil-spirits from entering the tombs they protected. This pair is a type of guardian figure known as tianlu, which combines characteristic features of both man and lion, and also prominently flared earls, small wings, and a single large spiraling horn.
Another dramatic feature that was a favorite effect for ceramics of this time was the three colored glazing technique known as sancai. The glazing, most commonly in green, cream, and brown, was applied to the figure and allowed to run freely over its surfaces, producing a great variety of run and drip patterns.
