March 30 -- Nelson, part 1

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On the 30th, my parents and I went to Kansas City's big art museum -- the Nelson.

The last time I was there, the Chinese section was under renovation. It's one of my favorite parts of the museum. We started there, this time.

I suppose it's only natural that so much of what we know from the past comes from graves. Things that are buried are protected, and often survive better than things that are out where they can be seen and used. I think most of the objects in A History of the World in 100 Objects came from graves..... (This tends to make one cynical when anything -- a coffin, say -- is described as "lasting forever".... Their idea of "forever" must be considerably shorter than mine.....  An interesting dichotomy between one's personal experience of time, and one's cultural experience of time.....)

This dragon is one of a pair that were over a lintel in a Western Han Dynasty (200 B.C.E. -- 9 C.E.) tomb.  "Forever" to be in a tomb in China; now in Kansas City.....

"Burial figure.  China.  Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.E.).  Carved wood with lacquer and polychrome.

"Although servants were still occasionally buried with their masters to serve them in the afterlife, after the fifth century B.C.E., symbolic substitutes were increasingly preferred."

Especially by the servants.

Love the shadows.....

Another ceramic brick from the Western Han Dynasty.  Identifying info with another short-legged horse says that the first horses in China had this long, low shape.

I really like all the shadows in this image.  The many wavy circles under the pot, and the rays of light/shadow that appear to join above the beads.... (As always, click on an image to see a bigger version.)

These are big beads.  The biggest one is more than 2" tall, if I remember correctly.

Not only did I remember to capture the identifying information, but it's nice and crisp.

Also from the Warring States Period.  Another long-bodied, short-legged horse.  Bronze.

I minored in History of Art.  The first art history class I took was Intro to Asian, and Shang Dynasty bronzes were among the first objects we studied.  I've had a soft spot for them, ever since.

Love the shape.....

I don't remember this from class, but I like its fat shape (and ridges).

If I'd seen this out of context, I wouldn't have guessed it was Chinese.

I love this horse.  It's big.  Maybe a yard tall?

Tang Dynasty (618-906 C.E.).  Its label says these long-legged horses came from "the Central Asian region of Ferghana."

I think it's interesting that none of the Chinese horses seem to have much in the way of manes or tails.....

One ear pointing forward, and one backward.....

You can see this cart, behind the horse's shoulder in the prev.

The pic of this label isn't as clear as some of the others, alas, but I think it's interesting, so I've included it.....

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