Model of pottery stove

Title

Year/Period

Han dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE)

Region

China

Object Type

models (representations), mingqi

Material

ceramic (material)

Technique

molding (forming), glazing (coating process), pottery techniques

Dimension

Object size: H9.0 x W22.0 x D18.0 cm

Accession No.

C-1060

Collection of

Asian Civilisations Museum

This green lead-glazed model stove served as a burial ware or ‘mingqi’. It is U-shaped with a flat top and three circular openings. On the flat side of the stove is a rectangular opening for stoking purposes. The practice of burying objects with the deceased stems from the belief in life after death. Burying the stove ensured that the deceased could continue ‘life’ in the underworld and served as a proof of his or her identity to underworld officials. Elaborate groups of burial wares were also a display of wealth and social status.