Pig in a Pen
317-400
Physical Qualities
Stoneware with gray-green glaze, 3 1/2 H x 6 Diam. in. (9 x 15 cm.)
Credit Line
Purchase with exchange funds from Julius Levy Memorial Fund; Gift of Cornelius Ruxton Love, Jr.; Gift of Capt. Israel N. Munaker; Gift of J. Gilman D'Arcy Paul; Bequest of John Henry Scarff; and Gift of Alan Wurtzburger
Object Number
1991.30
This group (BMA 1991.28-30) represents not only types of farm animals provided for the
soul’s continued comfort, but also three of the Twelve Earthly Branches, the animals associated with China’s ancient 60-year calendrical system (rat, bull, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, pig). Could the set represent an extremely early appearance of the animals, which began to be depicted in painted decoration on walls or ceilings of 6th century tombs? Ceramic sets of the twelve, as animal-heads atop
human figures or small animals carried in the arms of attendants, were featured among the spirit articles placed in tombs from the Tang dynasty (618–907) into the Ming (1368–1644).
The Baltimore Museum of Art by purchase, 1991; J.J. Lally & Co., New York
