green ox with attachable cart consisting of yoke, 2 side rails and 2 wheels, with accompanying free-standing farmer

Cart with Ox and Farmer, 1st century

Unknown artist, expand_more

Cast nearly two-thousand years ago, this bronze oxcart would have been placed in an upper-class tomb to serve as an auspicious emblem of plentiful harvests through all eternity. For centuries, Chinese culture has associated agriculture and the noble work of farmers with peace and prosperity. A tomb object like this would have ensured prosperity for the afterlife.

Pottery bullock carts have been found in numerous tombs of the Han (206 b.c.-a.d. 220) and Tang (618-906) dynasties, but to date this is the only known bronze Han dynasty oxcart and farmer. An extraordinarily rare find, it was excavated in Sichuan province in west central China.

Details
Title
Cart with Ox and Farmer
Role
Artist
Dimension
Overall length: 69cm
Accession Number
2002.217.7a-m
Curator Approved

This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

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green ox with attachable cart consisting of yoke, 2 side rails and 2 wheels, with accompanying free-standing farmer