https://digasst.lib.hku.hk/files/original/121/IMG_20210319_141331.jpg 96d980930eed6cfc359476f1b56cbbe9 https://digasst.lib.hku.hk/files/original/121/model_[20].json e4a73c92488e86b672621fc3bd3aa29f 3D Model A 3D rendering of a physical object. Place of Origin The geographic location where an object was made Probably Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China (as it was the capital and cultural center of the Tang Dynasty) Culture/Period A broad historical period, archaeological culture, or artistic movement in which an object was made Tang Dynasty Date From Enter the lower end of the date range, only enter a number without any label and use negative for BCE. For example: enter '220' for 220 CE or '-220' for 220 BCE 618 Date To Enter the upper end of the date range, only enter a number without any label and use negative for BCE. For example: enter '220' for 220 CE or '-220' for 220 BCE 907 Materials What an object is made of, including any later additions (mounts, frames, etc.) Earthenware Height (cm) 44.6 Width (cm) 9 Credit Line The name of the individual or institution that donated the object to the museum, the source of a purchase, or the name of a loaning individual or institution Gift of Dr. T.T. Tsui, Tsui Art Foundation Ltd. Accession Number A unique identifier for an object HKU.C.1993.0990 Description A short physical description of the object with an overview of its historical and social significance The term “groom” is used to describe this middle-aged male figure as it was found alongside ceramic glazed horses. The outstretched arm presumably held the reigns off the horse. The figure was painted over using only three different colors, being brown, dark green, and creamy off-white. Other similar figures with the same color palette have been identified as the sancai (Tri-Color). Their heads and bodies are made separately using low-fired clay, after which they are sealed together and glazed over. Areas on the body where the glaze has chipped off, reveals the clay firing process underneath. Grooms are unique in the sense that their clothing and facial features are not Chinese but those of Central Asia. Nearby Turkic kingdoms would send their men with animals such as horses and camels for the Tang emperor as tributes for prosperous trade. These earthenware figures were funeral objects, and they were unearthed within the Tombs of high-ranking officials in the Tang Dynasty (618CE-907CE). The appearance and number of figures in a tomb depended on the status of the individual. A standard tomb contained figures of civil officials, warriors, servants etc. The belief was that the deceased could carry their earthy possessions and enjoy them in the afterlife. The sancai were to appear to protect and serve the deceased high-ranking official as they would in real life. Larger figures such as Guardian Gods were likely used to protect the spirit of the deceased and ward off tomb raiders. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Groom Earthenware Groom Horse Rider Tang dynasty