Mythical Animal thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
China, Room 44, The T.T. Tsui Gallery

Mythical Animal

450-520 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Many Chinese grave goods were models of domestic animals but occasionally a beast from the mythical world would be given shape, such as this fierce-looking animal. Mythical animals were placed inside tombs to ward off evil spirits.


Object details

Category
Object type
Materials and techniques
Earthenware, painted
Brief description
Earthenware figure of a tomb guardian beast, China, Six Dynasties period, ca. 450-520
Physical description
Mythical animal, painted earthenware
Dimensions
  • Height: 25.1cm
Style
Gallery label
Mythical animal Northern/Southern Dynasties 450-520 Painted earthenware Museum no. C.34-1958(2007)
Subjects depicted
Summary
Many Chinese grave goods were models of domestic animals but occasionally a beast from the mythical world would be given shape, such as this fierce-looking animal. Mythical animals were placed inside tombs to ward off evil spirits.
Collection
Accession number
C.34-1958

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Record createdApril 3, 2008
Record URL
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