Tang dynasty tomb figures of Liu Tingxun
The Tang dynasty tomb figures of Liu Tingxun (劉庭訓) are thirteen earthenware tomb figures found in a tomb believed to be that of Liu Tingxun, a Chinese general who died in 728 AD. These figures were found in Luoyang and are now on display in the British Museum in London. Similar Tang dynasty tomb figures of people and animals from other tombs of the same era can be found in other museums around the world.
Horses and grooms from the tomb of Liu Tingxun on display in the British Museum
Horses and grooms from the tomb ensemble
All 13 tomb figures as displayed in the British Museum
Camels made of brown and green glazed earthenware.
Tang dynasty tomb figures
Tang dynasty tomb figures are pottery figures of people and animals made in the Tang dynasty of China (618–906) as grave goods to be placed in tombs. There was a belief that the figures represented would become available for the service of the deceased in the afterlife. The figures are made of moulded earthenware with colour generally being added, though often not over the whole figure, or in naturalistic places. Where the colouring was in paint it has often not survived, but in many cases it was in sancai ("three-colour") ceramic glaze, which has generally lasted well.
Two sancai-glazed horses and groom, c. 728, from the tomb of the general Liu Tingxun
Painted cross-dressing woman playing polo
Lokapala guardian figure
A band of musicians mounted on a camel