Tang dynasty figure
- Gallery: Room 33
- Culture: Tang dynasty
- Date: 728 (Date recorded for the death of general Liu Tingxun.)
- Object type: figure
- Materials: earthenware
- Museum number: 1936,1012.223
- Museum: The British Museum
- Collection record: British Museum website
- Image © The Trustees of the British Museum, shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.
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About this object
This is a Tang dynasty figure representing a 'lokapala,' a Buddhist guardian often depicted as a protector of the tomb's occupant. The figure stands on a bull, a powerful and symbolic combination. Made of green and brown glazed earthenware, it is one of a group of thirteen tomb figures believed to have come from the tomb of General Liu Tingxun, who lived in the early 8th century.
This piece is part of a larger set that includes civil officials, earth spirits, and other guardians, which would have been placed near the main burial chamber to protect the deceased. The distinctive 'sancai' glaze was achieved using metal oxides that transformed during firing into vibrant yellows, greens, and browns.
The figures were purchased from an art dealer named George Eumorfopoulos in 1936. They were likely part of a broader collection brought to the West for display and study.
See it in person
Tang dynasty figure is on display in Room 33 at the British Museum on Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London — free to enter. Choose British Museum on audioguide.london and take a photo of it to hear this free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
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