Tomb Guardians, early 700s, Cleveland Museum of Art: Chinese ArtWith their fierce expressions and ex
Tomb Guardians, 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: Part 1: 92.3 x 43.8 x 41.9 cm (36 5/16 x 17 ¼ x 16 ½ in.); Part 2: 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 -- source link
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