Architectural tower: tomb model, 1st century-2nd century ::

Details

Other Titles

Model of a Watchtower
Watchtower

Place where the work was made

Henan Province → China

Period

Han dynasty 206 BCE - 220 CE → China

Date

1st century-2nd century

Media category

Ceramic

Materials used

earthenware with a low fired green lead glaze

Dimensions

144.8 x 38.5 x 38.5 cm :

a - top, 39 x 35 x 33 cm

b - upper middle, 34 x 35 x 33 cm

c - middle, 35.4 x 38.5 x 38.5 cm

d - lower middle, 52 x 34.5 x 33.3 cm

e - base, 26.4 x 27.7 x 16.5 cm

Signature & date

Not signed. Not dated.

Credit

Edward and Goldie Sternberg Chinese Art Fund 1992

Location

South Building, lower level 1, Asian Lantern galleries

Accession number

308.1992.a-e

Copyright

Reproduction requests

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About

Pottery models of buildings, horses and other animals, military personnel, servants and courtiers were made to furnish the tombs of rulers and royalty in early China. Thus endowed, the tomb became a replica of the deceased's life on earth. Pottery facsimiles or 'mingqi' have become the most illustrative and evocative images of life in ancient China, as well as a poignant demonstration of the Chinese belief in the afterlife. The production of these pottery models stimulated one of China's most distinctive and unique artistic traditions, which flourished during the Han and Tang dynasties. This unusually large model of a four-storey watchtower is manned by guards holding crossbows on the lower level, and by alert and watchful sentinels above. Every architectural detail is observed: in the circular roof tile ends, the ornate quatrefoil ornaments on the corners, the door and gate fittings and the overall construction methods. Since most Han dynasty buildings were constructed from wood and have not therefore survived, such models are the most accurate records of architecture in early dynastic China.

Art Gallery Handbook, 1999. pg.247.

Places

Where the work was made

Henan Province

Exhibition history

Shown in 4 exhibitions

Into the afterlife: Han and Six dynasties Chinese tomb sculpture from the Schloss Collection, Vassar College Art Gallery, Poughkeepsie, NY, Poughkeepsie, 28 Sep 1990–25 Nov 1990
The connoisseur and the philanthropist: 30 years of the Sternberg Collection of Chinese Art, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 31 Jan 2014–27 Apr 2014
Glorious, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 27 May 2017–06 Jan 2019
Elemental, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 30 Jul 2022–2024

Bibliography

Referenced in 16 publications

Mathew Calandra and Grace Ciavarella, SOSE: Studies of society and environment, 'Everyday life under the Han Dynasty', pg. 118-119, Milton, 2000, 118 (colour illus.). Secondary school text book.
Yin Cao, The Connoisseur and the Philanthropist: 30 years of the Sternberg Collection, 'Chinese Art', pg. 12-23, Sydney, 31 Jan 2014, 14 (colour illus.).
Edmund Capon, The Connoisseur and the Philanthropist: 30 years of the Sternberg Collection, 'The connoisseur and the philanthropist: the creation of a collection', pg. 5- 10., Sydney, 31 Jan 2014, 5.
Edmund Capon, Look: 1953-2003 celebrating 50 years, 'Goldie Sternberg 1921-2003', pg. 23, Sydney, May 2003, 23 (colour illus.).
Edmund Capon, Look, 'Great Gifts: Great Patrons', pg. 20-21, Heidelberg, Aug 1994, 20 (colour illus.), 21.
Joanna Capon, Art and Australia (Vol. 41, No. 4), 'Goldie Sternberg. Benefactor', pg. 618-620, Sydney, Jun 2004-Aug 2004, 618-619, 620 (colour illus.).
Willow Weilan Hai, Art of China, 'The Schloss Collection', pg. 32, Hong Kong, Jan 1992, 32. This reference was provided by L. Schloss.
Bruce James, Art Gallery of New South Wales handbook, 'Asian Collection: East Asia', pg. 246-287, Sydney, 1999, 247 (colour illus.). See 'Further Information' for text.
Candace Lewis (Curator), Into the afterlife: Han and Six dynasties Chinese tomb sculpture from the Schloss Collection, Poughkeepsie, 1990, cover page (colour illus.). plate no. 23
Candace J. Lewis, Spirit of Han, 'Tall pottery, towers, and their archaeological contexts', pg. 56, Singapore, 1991, 56. This reference was provided by L. Schloss.
Candace J. Lewis, Orientations, 'Tall towers of the Han', pg. 45-54, Hong Kong, Aug 1990, 50, 51 (colour illus.) 52-54.. fig.no. 10
Jackie Menzies, AGNSW Collections, 'Asian Art - India, South-East Asia, China, Tibet, Korea, Japan', pg. 173-228, Sydney, 1994, 190 (colour illus.).
Jackie Menzies (Editor), The Asian Collections Art Gallery of New South Wales, 'Tomb Sculpture', Sydney, 2003, 80 (colour illus.).
Wendy Symonds (Editor), Look, Asian Art Galley New Courses, Heidelberg, Feb 1998, 20 (colour illus.).
Judith White, Look, 'Bringing Australia Asian culture', pg. 36-37, Melbourne, Apr 2000, 37 (colour illus.).
unknown author, Retro active 1: Stage 4 World History, 'Everyday life under the Han Dynasty', pg. 126-127, Milton, 1999, 126 (colour illus.).

Provenance

Lillian Schloss, pre 1990, United States of America, purchased by the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, Dec 1992.