Camels such as this one were placed in the tombs of the Tang dynasty (618–907) elite. The three-color glaze combination of brown, green, and white was reserved for members of the nobility. The size of the camel further indicates the position of the deceased. Large, glazed camels often functioned as a pair, one carrying a bag full of provisions such as water bottles and wild game, and the other wearing either a blanket or nothing at all. This camel has large feet with splayed toes, well suited to traversing the desert and near-desert conditions of central Asia. Its saddlebag is embellished with grotesque monster masks that provided symbolic protection against the dangers of its journey, in both this world and the next. Textiles, furs, and medicines were among the most common articles of trade; this camel’s load includes a twisted skein of wool, a woven blanket, a small vial, and various animal pelts packed onto large saddle boards.