Ox from the Wuwei Site. Gansu, China, Eastern Han Dynasty (206 B.C. - 220 A.D.)

Ox from the Wuwei Site. Gansu, China, Eastern Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD).
Wood (fir) with traces of polychromy.
The different elements that compose the animal have been sculpted separately. Provenance: Acquired from the Jacques Barrere Gallery, Paris.
Test C 14 - lso trace radiocarbon laboratory, University of Toronto, Canada.
Measurements: 25.5 cm (height) x 29 cm (length).

In Chinese culture, the ox symbolizes honesty, hard work, perseverance and prosperity, very important values for the Eastern Han dynasty. They were crucial animals for agriculture and the economy, and their image was common in the art and literature of the time, representing the strength and spirit of work that drove society. Their strength was also a symbol of the dynasty's resilience and determination. The one now on offer is an ox with synthetic, but well-detailed strokes. The different elements that make up the animal have been sculpted separately. The angular shapes of the snout, legs and horns stand out, as well as the polychrome details in black. It belongs to the site of Wuwéi, a prefecture-city in the province of Gansu, People's Republic of China.