Antiques M.S. Rau | Tang Dynasty Ox And Cart

Over 1100 Years In Age, This Tang Dynasty Ox And Cart Earthenware Sculpture Served As Funerary Sculpture, Also Known As Mingqi. Reigning For Nearly 300 Years Between The 7Th And 10Th Centuries Ce, The Powerful Tang Rulers Oversaw A Cultural And Artistic “Golden Age” In Chinese Civilization. A Marker Of Wealth And Likely Created For The Tomb Of A Merchant, The Ox And Cart Would Have Offered Ample Support To The Deceased In The Afterlife.

Tang Dynasty Mingqi Reflect A Harmonious Blend Of Han Chinese Traditions And External Cultural Influences Arriving In China Through The Silk Road. More Than A Facilitator Of Global Commercial Transactions, The Silk Road Served As A Network For Cultural Exchange Between East Asia, Central Asia, The Middle East And Beyond. Along Its Routes, Travelers And Merchants From Disparate Cultures Encountered One Another, Fostering The Exchange Of Ideas, Philosophies, Art Forms And Scientific Knowledge. Mingqi Sculptures Such As This, Which Highlight The Very Tools That Facilitated Travel And Trade, Were Intended To Accompany And Serve The Deceased In The Afterlife. They Frequently Depict Guardian Figures And The Pack Animals That Were Essential In The Ever-Expanding World.

Circa 7Th-10Th Century Ce

11 3/8“ High X 9 1/2” Wide X 15 7/8“ Deep