Animal protector; China, Han dynasty, 216 BC-220 AD.

Animal protector; China, Han dynasty, 216 BC-220 AD.
Carved stone.
It has slight flaws.
Measurements: 30 x 60 x 46 cm.
Carved stone sculpture representing an animal with horns and open jaws, in which wishes were deposited. The piece is carved in the front area indicating that it was originally part of the ornamentation of an architectural complex.
The Han dynasty ruled China between 206 B.C. and 220 A.D., more than four centuries during which the political, social and economic structures of China were consolidated, leading the country to the most glorious stage of its history. Regarding the art of this time, it is still eminently funerary, although it reflects the very high artistic level that will be reached both in the capitals and in the provinces. These preserved objects provide us with information on the daily life and customs of the time, since the art becomes much more mundane than the bronzes of the Zhou and Shang periods. The structures of the tombs also changed: the Shang tombs were vertical, while the Han tombs were built as subway palaces. They were decorated with reliefs stamped with scenes from the life of the deceased, and a new material was incorporated as an artistic support, lacquer.