Tricolor Pottery Figurine of a Civil Official

According to the Tang dynasty custom, burial objects were put into the grave together with the deceased. People with high status often had hundreds of burial items, the commonest of which were figurines of officials, warriors, and guardian beasts. The figurine of civil official was usually portrayed with a serious facial expression in a long robe with wide sleeves. One of its hands is cupped into the other in front of chest. This figurine was donated by Mr. Zheng Zhenduo (1898-1958).