Tomb Guardian with Human Face, early 700s, Cleveland Museum of Art: Chinese ArtWith their fierce exp
Tomb Guardian with Human Face, early 700s, Cleveland Museum of Art: Chinese ArtWith their fierce expressions and exaggerated physical features, these two fantastic guardian creatures were intended to guard the entrance to a tomb, warding off evil as well as keeping the soul of the deceased from wandering. Known as “earth spirits” or qitou, they are markedly different in appearance: one has an animal face and a pair of antlers growing above its eyebrows; the other sports a human face with huge protruding ears and a short horn surrounded by fiery, twisting hair. Their many elongated spikes heighten the fearful intensity.Size: Overall: 88.9 x 41 x 50.8 cm (35 x 16 1/8 x 20 in.)Medium: glazed earthenware, sancai (three-color) warehttps://clevelandart.org/art/2000.118.2 -- source link
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