A rare and powerful pottery figure from the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD), depicting a stylized mythical beast with the physical strength and mass of a bull yet bearing the horned, armored features reminiscent of a rhinoceros. Standing four-square with a broad, muscular body, arched back, and sharply upturned tail, the creature’s head is crowned with three prominent horn-like projections. Along its spine, a series of raised nodules further enhance its fantastical presence. The surface retains traces of original mineral pigments, now weathered to mottled tones of gray, cream, and warm earthen brown after centuries of burial.

Crafted from earthenware, the figure was likely shaped using a combination of hand modeling and section-molding, then refined with carving tools to articulate the horns, tail, and ridged back. Once completed, it was low-fired in an oxidizing kiln atmosphere, producing a warm clay core. Mineral-based pigments were then applied to bring out the beast’s form and detail, remnants of which remain visible today.
Mythical animals in Han funerary art were placed in tombs as mingqi (“spirit goods”), serving as guardians to protect the deceased from malevolent forces in the afterlife. By merging recognizable traits of real animals with imaginative embellishments, artisans created guardian creatures embodying both physical might and supernatural protection. This beast’s hybrid bull-rhino form may symbolize agricultural prosperity, resilience, and exotic prestige, making it a potent emblem of wealth and security in the next world.

With its commanding stance and fusion of realism and imagination, this Han Dynasty mythical beast is a compelling testament to early imperial China’s artistry, spiritual beliefs, and mastery of symbolic form. Clay is of a grey ceramic with original white glazing. Tail complete and original.

Age: Han Dynasty 206 BC – 220 AD

Dimensions: 11"x 8" x 6"